THE LIFE 



E8THER DE BERDT, 



AFTERWARDS 



ESTHER REED, 



PENNSYLVANIA. 
PKIVATELY PKINTED 



PHILADELPHIA: 

C. SHEHMAN, PRINTER. 

1853. 



E 



30^ 



As 



T-\ 



'» • > 



A. 



'^^ . 



TO 
MY BROTHER, 

PROFESSOR HENRY REED, 

OF OUR COMMON ANCESTOR 

IS DEDICATED, 

AS A MARK OF AFFECTION 

THE MOST EARNEST AND SINCERE. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 
1747-1764. 

A Private Memoir — Ancestry — Protestant Refugees — Birth 
and Education — Religious Sentiment — Acquaintance with 
Joseph Reed — Americans in London, . . . .13 

CHAPTER XL 
1764-1767. 

Correspondence with Mr. Reed in England — His return to 
America in 1765 — Five Years' Love-letters — American 
Disturbances — Stephen Sayre and Arthur Lee — Charles 
Townshend's Revenue Bill, 28 

CHAPTER III. 
1765. 

Correspondence continued — Plans for Mr. Reed's Return to 
England — Commercial Difficulties — Mr. Reed's Illness, . 47 

CHAPTER IV. 

1765-1766. 

Correspondence continued — Repeal of the Stamp Act — 
1^ 



VI CONTENTS. 

Rockingham Ministry — Mr. Reed's Letters from America 
— Debates in Parliament — Petition of the Stamp Act 
Congress — Mr. Pitt's Speech, 65 

CHAPTER y. 

• 1766. 

Plans of Agency in England — Lord Dartmouth — Stephen 
Sayre's Letters — Charles Townshend and William Kelly 
— Letter to Lord Dartmouth — Visit to the House of Com- 
mons — Pitt, Townshend, Grenville and. Wedderburne — 
Correspondence — Richard Stockton — American Sine- 
cures, 80 

CHAPTER YL 
1766-1767. 

Correspondence continued — A Provincial Lawyer's Life — 
Doctor FrankUn — Boston Agency — Lord Shelburne — 
Mr. Reed, Deputy Secretary for New Jersey — Maurice 
Morgan — Duke of Grafton's " Mosaic" Administration, . 102 

CHAPTER VII. 

1768-1769. 

Mr. De Berdt Agent for Massachusetts — Mr. Reed's Let- 
ters — Lord Chesterfield — Sayre's Pamphlet — Mr. Reed's 
Visit to Boston — Death of his Father, . . . .119 

CHAPTER VIII. 
1769-1770. 

Mr. Reed sails for England — Commercial Difficulties and 
Death of Dennis De Berdt — Marriage and Return to 
America, 143 



CONTENTS. VU 

CHAPTER IX. 
1770-1771. 

Philadelphia Eighty Years Ago — Removal from New Jersey 
— Mrs. Reed's Letters to her Friends in England — Her 
Description of Colonial Life — Correspondence from 
America— Birth of her First Child, . . . .154 

CHAPTER X. 
1772. 

Correspondence continued — A Colonial Lawyer's Life — 
Galloway — Dickinson — Chew and Wain — Lord Dart- 
mouth's Reappointment as Secretary of State — Plans for 
returning to England, 169 

CHAPTER XL 
1774. 

Arrival of the Tea Ships — American Disturbances — Mrs. 
Reed's Letters on Public Affairs — The Boston Port and 
Quebec Bills — Letter from Hugh Baillie — Politics, . . 192 

CHAPTER XII. 
1775. 

Battle of Lexington — Burning of Charlestown — Richard 
Cary — Mr. Reed at Camp — Secretary to Washington — 
Mrs. Reed's Letters on Public Affairs — Letter from John 
Cox — American Independence, . . . . .211 

CHAPTER XIII. 
1776. 

Letter from London in 1775 — Mr. Reed's Reply — Inde- 



Vlll CONTENTS. 

pendence — Troops Raised — Governor Franklin — Mrs. 
Reed's Letters continued — Progress of Resistance, . 237 

CHAPTER Xiy. 
1776-1777. 

Campaign of 177G and Invasion of New Jersey — Letter 
from Camp — British Atrocities — George IIL and Lord 
North — Mrs. Reed's Letters to England and to Camp — 
Washington's Letter from Middlebrook, . . . 249 

CHAPTER XV. 

1777-1778-1779. 

Campaign of 1777-8 — Conduct of the Enemy — A Loyahst's 
Diary — Mrs, Reed at Norriton and Fleniington — Her 
Letters — Mr. Reed's Letter to Mr. De Berdt — The British 
Commissioners — Evacuation of Philadelphia — State of 
Politics — Mr. Reed elected President of Pennsylvania — 
Letter to Mr. De Berdt— Arnold— Fort Wilson Riot, . 276 

CHAPTER XVI. 

1780. 

Reed's Letter to Greene in February — Birth of Mrs. Reed's 
Youngest Son — March of the Philadelphia Troops to 
Trenton — Mrs. Reed's Letters — Philadelphia Contribu- 
tions — Lafayette — Correspondence with Washington — 
Mrs. Reed's Last Letters — Correspondence with Greene 
— Mrs. Reed's Illness and Death — Conclusion, . . . 301 



INTRODUCTION. 



My motives in writing this volume are honestly 
stated in its first pages. It has been prepared (and 
this the critical reader will easily detect) at different 
times, and in the brief intervals of leisure which 
professional work allows. Its composition has been 
a source of enjoyment in contrast with the uni- 
formity of my daily labour ; and I can truly say 
that when the last page was written, I was very 
sorry that my literary recreation was at an end. 

It is not as easy to define my reasons for printing 
what was thus wTitten, especially as I have not 
adapted it in some respects to publication, having 
left it in the shape of a private memoir. But when 
my little enterprise was completed, it seemed as if 
I had worked in vain, were I to leave it in the fugi- 



X INTRODUCTION, 

tive and precarious form of manuscript. The pride of 
ancestry, in its practical and American sense, no one 
need disclaim — I certainly do not ; and as my mind 
dwells on these memorials of patriotism, and self- 
sacrifice, and heroic endurance, I feel, not that I or 
mine are better for having such ancestors, but that 
the consciousness of having had them, ought to make 
me and mine far better then we are. In studying, 
as I have faithfully, these records of the past, I 
am humbled in my own estimation, at the prevalent 
inferiority in real, practical, American spirit, of the 
times we live in, to those so recently gone by. This 
sort of pride of ancestry, I repeat, I do not dis- 
claim. It is at least an inoffensive and humanizing 
sentiment. A late anonymous writer has analysed 
the feeling in words better than any I can find. 
"Anything," says an unknown contributor to the 
Westminister Review, " in the way of beauty should 
be welcome in matters of opinion. To have lineage 
— to love and record the names and actions of those 
without whom ive could never have been, who 
moulded us, and made us what we are, and whom 
every one must know to have propagated influences 
into his being, which subtly but certainly act upon his 
whole conduct in the world — all this is implied in 
ancestry, and the love of it, and is natural and 



INTRODUCTION. XI 

good." This motive has tempted me to make per- 
manent this little memorial of those who are gone 
before me. 

I had other reasons. It is a contribution, or may 
hereafter so be regarded, to the historical literature 
of my native city and State. It records the acts 
of those who belonged to Philadelphia, and to Penn- 
sylvania, the communities where my whole life has 
been past, that have honoured and trusted me, and 
which, with a full appreciation of their faults, I love 
and honour. If Pennsylvania and Philadelphia had 
always been true to themselves, to the great and 
good men who live in their history, recent and re- 
mote, and had not too often wasted praise, and adu- 
lation, and honour, on those who had but little claim 
to either, far higher would have been the fame of the 
community where our lot is cast. My little effort is 
now made to take from what I must yet call, " the 
dark unfathomed caves" of her history, some gems 
of which we may be proud hereafter. Within fifty 
miles of the spot where these lines are written, there 
are more Revolutionary battle-fields than in half 
the Union beside, and the domestic narratives — one 
of which I now venture to print — of Pennsylvania 
homes, from the forks of the Ohio to the banks of 



Xll INTRODUCTION. 

the Delaware, contain illustrations of heroism and 
public virtue, which no State can surpass and few 
can equal. This local sentiment, as inoffensive as 
the other I have referred to, has also tempted me 
to this publication. 

My work, I wish it again to be understood, is 
meant for private circulation. 

William B. Reed. 

Philadelphia, August 15th, 1853, 



THE LIFE 



ESTHER DE BEEDT. 



CHAPTER I. 

1747-1764. 

A Private Memoir — Ancestry — Protestant Refugees — 
Birth and Education — Religious Sentiment — Ac- 
quaintance with Joseph Reed — Americans in London. 

This Sketch of the Life of one, the tradition of 
whose gentle virtues is affectionately cherished by 
her descendants, is prepared for those only who 
have a personal interest in the subject. It is meant 
to be strictly a Private Memoir, This ought to be 
distinctly borne in mind, should it hereafter, with 
or without my agency, be published. I make this 
explanation of my original design the more clearly, 
from no undue modesty as to what I have under- 
taken, which may have a wider interest than I 

2 



14 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

imagine, but because the motives and object of 
every literary enterprise, great or small, ought to 
be ingenuously and unaffectedly stated : it is fair to 
all parties, — the writer as well as the reader. The 
privacy of a personal memoir has many privileges. 
It admits of hearty and unreserved praise. It 
authorizes reference to personal and familiar de- 
tails, suited only to the domestic circle, and revela- 
tions of private correspondence of no interest 
beyond the fireside for which they are made. 

Such, then, is my object in an unpretending 
essay ; to entertain and interest my immediate 
family, and to give to my own, my brother's 
and sister's children, a memorial of an ancestor, of 
whose pure domestic character, — the best of fame, 
— they have reason to be proud.* I shall endeavor 

* As I write (February, 1847), my eye lights on a passage in 
the December number of the Quarterly Review, which, for fear 
it may escape me, I here copy. 

" The high and holy duties assigned to women, by the decrees 
of Providence, are essentially of a secret and retiring nature. It 
is in the privacy of the closet, that the soft, yet sterling wisdom 
of the Christian Mother, stamps those impressions on the youthful 
heart, which, though often defaced, are seldom wholly obliterated. 
Whatever tends to withdraw her from these sacred offices, or 
even abate their full force and efficacy, is high treason against 
the hopes of a nation." 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 15 

to write it simply and un ambitiously : for such a 
narrative ought to be, in the best sense of the word, 
"homely." It describes the career of an English 
girl, maturing into an American patriot woman, — 
a heroic and affectionate wife, proud of her hus- 
band's honest ambition, and in the end the victim 
of early death, accelerated by privations and sor- 
rows, such as civil war so fruitfully produces. 
This, it will be seen, was the life and death of Es- 
ther De Berdt. 

There is no difficulty in tracing the origin of the 
De Berdt family. They were French Flemings, 
who in the middle of the 16th century found refuge 
in Great Britain. They came from Ypres, and 
settled first at Colchester. De Berdt is very Gal- 
ilean, and the Christian name, which in later gene- 
rations has been Hibernicised into "Dennis," was 
originally written in the family " Denys." Happy 
was it for the lands whither they came, that these 
fugitives left their native country. I am of course 
unable accurately to trace the transfusion in Eng- 
land, though I have no doubt its effect there is 
clearly discernible ; but in America, no stream of 
immigration has been purer and more beneficent 
than that which had its source in France, and espe- 
cially in Protestant France. Even at this day, it 



16 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

is most curious and agreeable to observe the effect 
of translation on the individual Frenchman ; for 
while the masses, even under the fostering care of 
an indulgent monarchy, as in Canada, remain un- 
improved and unimproving, the French emigrant 
who comes to this country becomes at once a con- 
tented, exemplary, and prosperous American citi- 
zen. There is no better stock than that of the 
French and Flemish Protestants, whom the bigotry 
of Philip the Second in one century, and of Louis 
XIV. in the next, drove from their homes and 
places of reformed worship.* It is that of the 
Hugers, the Petigrus, the Desaussures, the Gour- 
dins, of our country ; of the Romillys, the Barr^s, 

* In 1845, I saw, amidst all the splendors of Versailles, the 
little confessional where, it is said, Letellier persuaded Louis 
XIV. to revoke the Edict of Nantes, and drive his best subjects 
into exile. Now as I write (April, 1848), Versailles is national 
property, and the last of the Bourbons has followed in the steps 
of the Huguenots, though with small claim to sympathy. In a note 
to Lady Hervey's Letters, edited I believe by Mr. Croker, I find 
the following fact stated: "In 1744, about 400 of the principal 
merchants in London presented a spirited Address to the King 
on this occasion — a threatened French invasion, in behalf of the 
Pretender; — but in looking over the names, it seems very remark- 
able, that full one-half were foreign : no doubt principally those 
of Protestant refugees." (Hervey's Letters, 1821, p. 48.) 



^ ESTHERDEBERDT. 17 

the De Berdts, of England. From this stock of 
Continental Protestantism, came Denys or Dennis 
De Berdt, of the city of London, who at the time 
of his daughter's birth was a merchant largely en- 
gaged in what was then known as the American 
trade, and evidently, from the trusts reposed in 
him, and the tenor of such correspondence as has 
been preserved, a man of high character and social 
position. He was, during the American troubles, 
on terms of friendly and confidential intercourse 
with several members of the Government, especially 
with Lord Shelburne and Lord Dartmouth ; and 
for a long series of years, in fact till his infirmities 
disabled him, represented the Colonies of Massa- 
chusetts and Delaware, the last then known as 
" The Three Lower Counties." These agencies, 
some details of which may hereafter be noticed, 
were posts of high responsibility. Mr. Burke and 
Doctor Franklin, as is well known, at difi*erent times 
were colonial agents. No one discharged his duties 
more faithfully and satisfactorily than Mr. De Berdt. 
His picture, in commemoration of the gratitude of 
Massachusetts, now hangs in the State House at 
Boston ; and a piece of silver plate, in the posses- 
sion of his descendants in England, attests the feel- 
2* 



18 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

ins: of another of his constituencies. It bears the 
following inscription : 

To 

DENNIS DE BERDT, ESQUIRE, 

In grateful memory of his faithful services exerted successfully 

in obtaining the repeal of the American Stamp Act, 

This Plate is presented, by the Honble. House of Assembly, 

of the Lower Counties on Delaware, 

A. D. 1766.* 

These matters are here alluded to rather in anti- 
cipation of the regular narrative of his daughter's 
life. 

Esther De Berdt was born in or near London, on 
the 11th of October, 1747 (0. S.) Of her charac- 
ter as a child and her early education, nothing is 
known. It is fair to infer, from her handwriting, 
which is ladylike and graceful, — her orthography, 
which, unlike that of many greater people of her 
times, was very correct, — and above all, from the 

* This piece of plate is in the possession of Mr. D. De Berdt 
Hovell, Lower Clapton, Middlesex. The Delaware records were 
destroyed during the Revolutionary War, and I have been unable 
to learn more of this testimonial than is indicated in the inscrip- 
tion, and in a letter from Miss De Berdt of 12th September, 
1766. 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 19 

general style of her correspondence, that her edu- 
cation, according to the standard — not very high, 
I admit, — of the times, was complete. It was that 
which the daughter of an English merchant of inde- 
pendent means had a right to, — one who kept his 
coach, and, besides his town house in Artillery 
Court, had his country residence at Enfield, a vil- 
lage not far distant from London, and which is not 
yet absorbed by the vast Metropolis. In all Miss 
De Berdt's letters, and they are numerous enough 
to authorize an inference, with none of the bril- 
liancy which marks the feminine style of our day, 
there was a precision and clearness of language, — 
sometimes formal, and always inartificial, — which 
showed that the writer had read and been impressed 
by good models of English writing. The Spectators 
and Tatlers and Guardians were still current lite- 
rature, not more remote than are Scott's Novels to 
the young ladies of 1848 ; and the Idler and Ram- 
bler, Thomson's Seasons, Hervey's Meditations, and 
Young's Night Thoughts, were the new books of the 
day. These letters of Miss De Berdt's will here- 
after speak for themselves. 

. One element of her youthful character must be 
noticed. I mean her active, almost puritanical (this 
word, also, I use in its best and highest sense), reli- 



20 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

gious feeling. Miss De Berdt's family, especially 
her father and mother, were earnestly pious. They 
were Dissenters, but of what precise shade of dis- 
sent, I have no means of ascertaining. Her girl- 
hood was passed at a peculiar period of religious 
history, when the formalism of the Church of Eng- 
land had reached its extremest point — the days 
of hard-swearing, grace-saying. Church and State 
Squires, and fox-hunting Parsons — when enthu- 
siastic religion, no longer persecuted but despised, 
lighted and watched its fires in humble dissenting 
chapels — the day when Wesley and Whitfield, with 
one of whom the De Berdts seem to have had some 
acquaintance, broke away from an establishment 
they had in vain sought to animate, or rather when 
the Church, by an error her wisest men have de- 
plored ever since, allowed men of so wonderful 
energy and ability, to raise another alien banner, 
and rally round it the humble and the poor. It is, 
it seems to me, the worst and most unjust of follies, 
for us who live in days of comparative religious 
moderation and tranquillity, to judge harshly of the 
dissenting exorbitance of a century ago. Its enthu- 
siasm was a living element, when animation was 
sorely needed. It was the necessary stimulant, at 
a moment of imminent collapse. The dissenting 



ESTHER DEBEKDT. 21 

Evangelism of 1750, like the Puritanism of a cen- 
tury before, did its work, and most important work, 
in its own good time. It is not a thing of or for 
our times, and no one now wishes to revive it, any 
more than we do to restore Puritan garments, or 
Puritan nomenclature. But let us write kindly the 
epitaph of sincere extravagance.* 

The active religion of the day, it seems to me, 
was with the Dissenters, or with the secluded and 
subordinate ecclesiastics of the English Church, — 
the curates and vicars, who mourned over the 

* I have authority for these opinions. Lord Mahon says (His- 
tory, vol. ii. p. 391), " An hundred years ago the churchman 
was slack in his duties, and slumbered at his post. It was the 
voice of an enthusiast that roused the sleeper." And Archdeacon 
Hare (Sermons, p. 337) still more earnestly. Speaking of Baxter 
and the Puritan clergy of 1640, he says, "These pious men were 
driven from their pulpits ; many of them had. to endure cruel 
persecution. In a later age, when a spirit of literary and worldly 
lukewarmness had almost benumbed our theology, and when John 
Wesley lifted up his voice to admonish us that the temple of the 
Lord is an empty shell unless the Spirit of the Lord be dwelling 
in it, how easily might that large body of men who afterwards 
sepeded from our Church, and in whom, if there was no little ex- 
travagance, there was also much fervor of faith, have been kept 
within our walls by judicious kindness ; instead of which they 
were treated with overbearing scorn, and pains were taken to irri- 
tate them against us." 



22 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

lapses and indliference of those in high places. In 
this atmosphere of ardent and unaffected piety, 
Esther De Berdt began her life. She no doubt 
breathed it with the ready susceptibility of a woman's 
heart, with the very chords of which, young or old, 
religion in some form naturally entwines itself. She 
saw in her aged parents, for she was the child of 
their old age, the efficacy of religion in guiding con- 
duct. She loved them, and not the less dearly be- 
cause they were sincerely, unostentatiously religious. 
Yet, withal, there seems to have been no tinge of 
exclusiveness, or harsh intolerance, but a gentle, 
diffident, devotional spirit, that is inexpressibly at- 
tractive. This estimate of her religious feelings, a 
careful and minute examination of the correspond- 
ence in my hands enables me to make. Among 
other original papers, is a small manuscript volume, 
without date, signed by her unmarried name, *' Es- 
ther De Berdt," containing her private, maiden 
prayers or meditations, traced in her peculiar and 
delicate penmanship, and animated with the senti- 
ment of active and gentle piety to which I have al- 
luded, and which from first to last, as a girl and 
woman, in the trials of separation from the lover of 
her youth, at the grave of her little children, in the 
horrors of a civil war, when driven from home to 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 28 

distant and uncertain refuge, and agonized at her 
husband's danger, and on her own bed of lingering 
disease and death, was the predominant sentiment 
of her heart. 

This memorial, slight as it is, refers to a later 
period of her life, and is only incidentally alluded 
to now as giving some glimpses of her habits of 
early thought and conduct. It appears from this, 
as well as by allusions scattered through the corre- 
spondence, that Miss De Berdt's health was preca- 
rious : "God," she says, "has been pleased to 
afflict me with a feeble, disordered body," — and the 
only picture taken from life that we have, a family 
group, represents her as slight in frame, with light 
hair, and fair complexion, and an air of sprightly 
intelligence and refinement. Her reading seems 
to have been of a serious cast, — Hervey, Watts, 
Shenstone, and Young, at the height of their pecu- 
liar and transitory fame, are the authors she cites 
by name. Her amusements and occupations were 
of a kindred and sober description. The theatre, 
— then far more attractive than ever since, Gar- 
rick being in the flush of his wonderful celebrity, 
and the dramatic talent of the day at work to 
give scope to his varied genius, — seems to have been 
prohibited by the discipline of Artillery Court, and 



24 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

the recreations to "which we find allusions in the 
correspondence, are bright and cheerful rural ex- 
cursions to Cliveden and Hampton Court, and Wind- 
sor Park, which are described or alluded to as the 
moderate pleasures with which she was content. 
Thus passed her joyous and gentle girlhood. 

I now come to that, which in her's as in every 
woman's life, was its great and controlling incident ; 
that which determines destiny and influences for 
weal or woe what remains when parental guidance 
and protection end, — love for the husband of 
her willing choice, and father of her children. 
At the end of 1763, or beginning of 1764, Miss 
De Berdt made the acquaintance, probably through 
her father's business relations with America, of 
Joseph Reed, then a student of law in the Temple, 
— not, let me say, of that description of boyish stu- 
dents that we know of in American law offices, but 
one who, having finished his course and been ad- 
mitted to practice at home, had gone abroad, as was 
then the fashion, to gain professional accomplish- 
ments in the mother country. Mr. Reed and his 
American companions seem to have been domesti- 
cated at Enfield, and in Artillery Court. Doctor 
John Morgan, the founder of the American Medical 
Schools, Mr. Samuel Powell, Stephen Sayre, Richard 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 25 

Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence, and Arthur Lee, formed the circle of Ameri- 
can companionship, of which it is very manifest the 
heroine of my narrative was the attractive centre. 
Here Mr. Reed sought and won her, not from her 
home and parents, but under their roof, and with 
their passive acquiescence ; won her to a new rela- 
tion, which, as will be seen, when distress and ruin 
came, was to be the means of making her the mis- 
tress of a new and happy home, and of solacing the 
desolate old age of a widowed mother. 

Mr. De Berdt peremptorily refused his consent to 
a connexion which would necessarily, on one side or 
the other, lead to painful separations. There are 
few English parents, even now, who would cheerfully 
resign an only daughter to an American lover, and 
one may easily conceive the extravagance of the 
pretension in days of colonial dependence and sub- 
jection.* Even youthful passion, in its fresh disap- 

* Mr. Reed's letter of proposal is dated in Sei)tember, 1764, and 
I find in the Gentleman's Magazine for April of that year, under 
the head of " American News," the following startling item : 

" The accounts we have received of the massacre of the Indians 
in Pennsylvania, appear by a private letter from thence, to be not 
enough explained. If entire credit may be given to -this letter, 

3 



26 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

pointment, could find nothing to blame in Mr. De 
Berdt's final decision, for such it was evidently sup- 
posed to be, and for a time it was submitted to, 
silently and hopelessly. But the young American 
had gained not only the daughter's afi*ections, but 
the esteem and regard of the parents, who, in their 
anxiety to alleviate his sorrows, seemed unable or 
unwilling to exclude him from familiar companion- 
ship. The natural result occurred. It seems the 
appeal to a mother's sympathies had not been inef- 
fectual, and the correspondence shows, that with a 
truly lover-like infidelity to all past protestations to 
the contrary, a secret engagement existed for seve- 
ral months, with all the romance, and some of the 
humiliating realities of such an intercourse. It was, 
however, too unsuitable to the honorable instincts of 

the spirit of resentment that was manifested on that occasion was 
not appeased by the death of the poor Indians, but threatens even 
the whole body of Quakers, their protectors, who not manifesting 
a zealous inclination to carry on the war against the savages, are 
become equally obnoxious to the frontier inhabitants as the Indians 
themselves, by whom they are daily massacred. The danger to 
which these people are exposed, from continual incursions of the 
savages, renders them desperate, and unless some means is con- 
trived for their security, it is feared they will attack the Metropo- 
lis, and shake the very foundations of the Philadelphia govern- 
ment, so firmly established in peace." 



ESTHER DE BE RDT. 27 

all parties to be long persevered in, and, in a short 
time, a new appeal was made by a sorrowing daughter 
to a kind father's heart, and his consent reluctantly 
given to an engagement, on the express condition 
that Mr. Reed should, if his presence were tempo- 
rarily needed in America, return and live in Great 
Britain. How dimly and darkly was the future 
seen. 



CHAPTER 11. 

1764-1767. 

Correspondence loitJi Mr. Reed in England — His return 
to America m 1765 — Fiveyears^ Love-letters — Ameri- 
can Disturhances — Stephen Sai/re and Arthur Lee — 
Charles Townshend's Revenue Bill. 

I SELECT the following portions of secret cor- 
respondence on tlie part of this young girl, as illus- 
trative of the struggle in a virtuous and unguarded 
mind, between the new affection that was taking 
root in her heart, and fidelity to other and sterner 
duties. They are, let it be recollected, the letters 
of a girl of eighteen, — simply, inartificially, natu- 
rally written. 



MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

Nov. 1, 1764. 

"This is the fourth time I have sat down to write 
to you ; three times I went no further than to write 



ESTHER DEBEKDT. 29 

my letters half through. Once it was quite finished, 
folded up and directed, and now I think I am doing 
what is contrary to my father's will, and was he 
to know it, he would never forgive me. This has 
been one reason for my not giving you the former 
letters. Another reason is, I see it will lead you 
into difficulty ; that if at any time you mention 
you still have an expectation of having me, he will 
immediately say that you would not entertain such 
expectations, or even distant hopes, without some en- 
couragement from me. It must never be known 
that I ever gave you such encouragement, by writ- 
ing a single line ; so that I believe not only my pa- 
rents, but every prudent person would say I'm now 
acting a wrong part. Besides, in spite of all my 
wishes, I see so many almost insurmountable diffi- 
culties, that my conduct seems more and more to 
blame, for as to my going to America, it cannot he. 
It would bring down the gray hairs of my dear and 
affectionate parents with sorrow to the grave. In- 
deed, it would be more than I could bear to leave 
them. You by several hints seem to mean that you 
could not live in England ; you told my father that 
the trade in the law never was so dull as it is now : 
these things all tend to sink my hopes. Therefore, 
my dear sir, don't wonder at my not writing ; but 



80 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

you did misinterpret my meaning when I asked you 
on Friday what brought you to our house. I asked 
you because I wanted to know what excuse you had 
for coming to my father, and I am excessively sorry 
that it gave you uneasiness, for I am sure, did you 
know the motive, it would have given you pleasure. 
After all, I desire to follow the path of duty, and 
leave events to God ; and the only thing you can 
do is, to wait the designs of an all-wise Providence, 
which, I doubt not, one day will make you happy ; 
but I do not desire, and believe you do not, to have 
my chief happiness fixed on any creatures. To hear 
of your happiness will always give me pleasure, 
but more, if I ever have it in my power to share it. 
Your sincere friend, 

E. D. B. 

Saturday night, or rather, Sunday morning. 

As if distrustful of the chilling effect on her 
lover of the devotional sentiment at the close of this 
letter, she adds a postscript of a much more earth- 
ly tone. 

P. S. Mamma being gone out, gives me a quarter 
of an hour that I can call my own. I devote it to 
you, to tell you that not having an opportunity yester- 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 31 

day to give you this letter, I add a little to it ; for 
now I've once begun to write, I may as well write 
a long letter as not, and so tell you the reason of 
my refusing your letter. Indeed, it was mamma 
being so nigh, and she turns round so quick some- 
times, that there's no doing anything for her. I 
was vexed afterwards, as I saw it gave you uneasi- 
ness, but as I had a fine flow of spirits in the eve- 
ning, and did not endeavor to curb them, I think 
you must guess at the reason, for I would not wil- 
lingly do anything that should give pain to a gene- 
rous breast. I don't know whether I should have 
wrote so soon if I had anybody I could speak to, 
but I neither can speak nor can I hear anything 
that is quite to my mind, for Captain Macpherson 
is never (here) but when my father or mother is in 
the way. You see there is self still which appears 
in every action of our lives ; but I am fully per- 
suaded, did the Captain know what would tend to my 
happiness, or give me the least pleasure, he would 
do it. I should be the worst of persons did I not 
retain a most grateful sense of the favors he has 
done. I am called away. 

Monday morning. 

It seems from the next letter, as if a lover's im- 



32 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

portunities had somewhat softened the resolution 
"never to go to America." She at least doubts. 



MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

Dec. 8th, 1764. 

Your surmise of my looking dull last 'Monday 
night was founded on truth, for really your letter 
on Sunday has given me the most sensible pain I 
have felt since you first wrote to my father, and 
though I endeavored to hide it, yet I found mamma 
took notice of it. The Captain asked me what was 
the matter, and my mind is anxious still, for my 
spirits flag insensibly when I think about going to 
America. My flattering hopes had raised me so 
high as to think you could find some way to make 
yourself happy in England. Indeed, you must try 
to find some other plan ; for though my father's life 
is particularly uncertain, yet, I don't think it im- 
probable that he should live long enough to see my 
brother apply to and be capable of carrying on a 
business which he has been all his life getting toge- 
ther for that end ; now do you think it unlikely ? 
Indeed I always thought that you intended staying 
here. Sure I did not raise my hopes without any 
foundation, for if at any time I perceived a hint 



ESTHEKDEBERDT. 33 

that looked otherwise, I imagined it was only what 
you should like, not what you intended ; but may- 
be, had it not been for my wishing it so ardently in 
some measure blinded me, I should have taken more 
notice of those distant hints you sometimes dropped. 
I am afraid you will blame me in this respect, and 
still I hope you w^ill impute it to the true cause, and 
then you'll rather pity me. But, my dear sir, is it 
impossible that you should stay here ? To speak 
the truth, I dread an answer. Sure, Providence 
will point out some way to hinder the painful task 
of breaking the tie of friendship, so firm, so sincere 
as ours ; — but why do I say friendship, for I believe 
that will ever last, though time should force us to 
swear off our love. 'Tis yours to know every sen- 
timent of my mind. I've no other friend to whom 
I can do it with more pleasure and satisfaction, and 
my heart is so full of anxiety, that it must vent 
itself somewhere, and to whom can I do it better than 
into a bosom that entertains so honorable a love? 
But you will think I say too much. 

I cannot help sometimes thinking that the Cap- 
tain is right in his apprehensions of my father's 
secret thoughts in your favor ; but then again a word 
is said which sinks my spirits. Still, I don't think 
they are entirely groundless, and though I can't form 



34 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

the least idea what they are, yet I'm sure what they 
are not. I am sure it is not for me to go to Ame- 
rica. I don't think you expect it is ; but I have 
heard him say of you more than I ever heard (him) 
say of any other gentleman. "I love the man," 
was his expression, and I can assure you that's a 
great deal for him. 

I should be very glad of half an hour's conversa- 
tion with you, but am entirely at a loss to contrive it. 
I should be glad to know what way you think of, 
and I own, giving you pleasure will have a great in- 
fluence over me, yet I won't promise that self shall 
have nothing to do with it. I was vastly dull last 
Wednesday before I came to Mr. Martin's, but 
whoever it was (you must guess) that was there, I 
found my spirits rise insensibly before I came away. 
I am sure Denny meant nothing when he said you 
used him ill. It was entirely a joke ; indeed he 
gives me a vast deal of uneasiness, and I'm sure 
you'll do much better not to go with him to plays, 
and he will like you the better when he comes to con- 
sider, for he ought to obey his papa in such trifles 
as that. I wish he was not so fond of the diver- 
sions at that end of the town. But you know the 
worst of him, for if I can be a judge of him, he 
(does not) appear best when you first see him, but 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 35 

when you know him as thoroughly as I do, he will 
improve on you, I hope. Mr. Powell drank tea here 
on Tuesday, and he gave me some very broad 
hints about you. I can't think how he got a no- 
tion about it. I am almost afraid my countenance 
betrayed what at present I would wish to have hid. 
If Providence has designed us for one another, may 
it kindly follow you, and constantly pour the great- 
est blessings it has to bestow on you : this will ever 
be the warmest wish of your most sincere and affec- 
tionate friend.* 

E. D. B. 

Tuesday morning. 

One other extract — a lady's postscript, however, 

* The young brother whose playhouse vagaries in the West 
End gave Miss De Berdt so much uneasiness, was Dennis De 
Berdt (the younger), afterwards a merchant in London, who died 
at an advanced age in or about the year 1820. Mr. Powell was 
Samuel Powell, of Philadelphia, an eminent merchant and mayor 
of the city, who died in 1793. On the day but one after the date 
of Miss De Berdt's letter, is the following in the Historical Chro- 
nicle of the Gentleman's Magazine for December, 1764; "Dr. Ben- 
jamin Franklin, known throughout Europe for his ingenious ex- 
periments in electricity, arrived in town from Philadelphia, in 
consequence of an appointment from the General Assembly of that 
province, to assist in transacting their important business for the 
ensuing year." 



36 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

from a later letter, is all of this part of the corre- 
spondence that I shall venture on. It obviously 
relates to Mr. Reed's return to America, then near 
at hand. 

" I had no opportunity to give you this on Sun- 
day, but I am uneasy. What made you so dull ? 
There seemed as if there was something that laid 
with particular weight on your spirits (Monday 
morning). Since I received your last letter, I ima- 
gine what made you so dull, but I dare say this will 
remove it. I am sometimes almost angry with my 
eyes, that they say so much; but why should I, 
since they only speak the language of my heart ? 
In the former part of this letter, where I mention 
your settling in England, I don't mean immediately, 
for I am convinced of the necessity of your going 
to America. I do believe you are in love, for in 
your last letter you wrote Tuesday instead of Mon- 
day evening. I am quite ashamed of this letter, it 
is wrote so shockingly ; but if I wait till I have an 
opportunity to sit down and write slowly and cor- 
rectly, you would have reason to think I had quite 
forgot you." 

Happy was it, no doubt the lover thought, and 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 37 

the reader even at this day will think so too, that 
the charming simplicity of natural letters like these 
was not spoiled by elaboration. A studied love- 
letter from man or woman is a very poor affair in- 
deed. 

On or about the 7th of February, 1765, the lover's 
farewell was said, and Mr. Reed sailed for America. 
In one respect only were the sorrows of separation 
alleviated, — Miss De Berdt's parents had consented 
to the engagement, and sanctioned their correspon- 
dence. In every other, the prospect was terribly 
unpropitious. Mr. Reed was returning to a scene 
of labor and anxious responsibility, — to meet and 
perform duties which required great and undivided 
energy. Misfortune was clouding the evening of 
his aged father's day, and infirmity had made sad 
inroad on a mind, which in its prime had been 
of great activity, and whose best resources and 
truest capacity had been devoted to the education 
of the son who was now to sustain and protect him 
in his decline. A large and helpless family was 
thus thrown for support on the young man ; and 
nobly did he meet the responsibility — without mur- 
mur and complaint, and this too when his hopes and 
affections were, as we have seen, diverted elsewhere. 
It was his reward, at this period of gloomy and 



38 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

dispiriting labor and anxiety, to be steadily cheered 
and sustained by the unfaltering fidelity of the young 
English girl, who at a distance watched his destiny. 
He had left England with every hope that his ab- 
sence would not be long, and that, extricating him- 
self from the ties which bound him to America, he 
should soon be enabled to return and live in the 
mother country. It was five years before his hope 
was realized, and then only to take his bride to her 
new and distant home in these wild Colonies. 

The correspondence of this long interval is now 
before me, — five years' love-letters ; and the doubt 
has not been trivial, how far, even at this remote 
period, when the grave has closed over the writers 
and the generation that succeeded them, it is right 
to violate the perfect and almost holy confidence in 
which they were written. There is an instinct that 
rather murmurs against it, and yet, when I read 
them — as I have again and again, singularly pre- 
served as they are, for more than eighty years, and 
see the illustration especially of feminine character 
they afford, how in the simple garb of natural rhe- 
toric, the pure sentiments of a woman's heart ap- 
pear, — how true, how gentle, how intelligent she 
was — how ardently and trustfully she loved, — filial 
pride in such an ancestor is irrepressible, and I yield 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 39 

to the temptation for the sake of those who share 
this pure inheritance (and for none others do I write) 
of letting them be seen and read.* 

The selections will be confined almost exclu- 
sively to one side of the correspondence, I mean 
to Miss De Berdt's letters, and this for obvious rea- 
sons. Mr. Reed's life and character have been else- 
where illustrated, though less in his private and 
familiar relations than I wished. But besides, I 
have no hesitation in saying that his letters are far 
less interesting — less worthy of preservation than 
Miss De Berdt's. The passionate letters of a re- 
pining lover are fit for but one eye ; whilst the 
restraint which natural shyness and delicacy impose 
on a female's pen renders what she writes always 
graceful and attractive. It is very apparent in this 
correspondence. There are, however, not a few of 
Mr. Reed's letters marked by the precision and 

* The preservation of these letters, not one in the series being 
lost or mutilated, in this careless and manuscript-destroying age, 
has always seemed to me rather curious. It has strangely re- 
called more than once Cobbett's striking remark, quoted in Arch- 
deacon Hare's Guesses at Truth, p. 268 : " As your pen moves, bear 
constantly in mind that it is making strokes that are to remain for 
ever." The number of letters which are preserved is one hundred 
and eighty- three. 



40 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

grace of style which distinguished what he wrote at 
a later period of life, the letters during the Revolu- 
tionary war to his wife and to his military and other 
friends, and which have been published in his Me- 
moirs. Even when as a lover he wrote to Miss De 
Berdt on practical matters of mutual concern, his 
letters are good specimens of direct and manly 
epistolary style. 

One other word of preliminary explanation is not 
inappropriate here. There will be found in this 
correspondence, incidental allusions to matters of 
public interest, which the reader who is familiar with 
this epoch of colonial history, will readily under- 
stand. It was just the period when the mistaken 
judgment of an honest but most misguided states- 
man, working in accidental unison with the perverse 
temper of an intractable political bigot, for such in 
every lineament was George III., young and old,* 
began that career of folly which drove America to 
separation. It was the interval in which occurred 
the enactment of the Stamp Act — the fall of Mr. 

* A friend to whom I happened to express this opinion of 
George III., has protested against it as peculiarly harsh and unjust. 
I have given it full consideration, and cannot retract it. All his- 
tory, and especially our history, sustains it. Paine was not far 
wrong when he called him the " Pharaoh of his times." 



ESTHER DE BE RDT. 41 

Grenville's Ministry, after it had done all its work 
of mischief, on the pebble-stone impediment of the 
Regency* — the short triumph of Lord Rockingham's 
party, and the final catastrophe of Charles Towns- 
hend's Revenue Bill of 1767. Mr. De Berdt's com- 
mercial relations to America have been already 
alluded to. In 1765, his ofiicial connexion began, 
he being successively appointed agent for Delaware 
and Massachusetts. His post under the latter was 
an arduous one ; his constituency having most ground 
of complaint, and being least disposed to suppress 
it ; and the correspondence w^hich has survived it is 
in every way creditable to his good sense, integrity, 
and active sympathy with his transatlantic clients. 
Thus it was that from a father's precept and ex- 

* In LordJohn Russell's Introduction to vol. iii.of the Correspon- 
dence of the Duke of Bedford, he says, speaking of the Regency 
squabble which broke up George Grenville's administration: " Such 
vi^ere the causes w^hich shook to its foundation a Ministry which 
had, unopposed and almost unperceived, carried resolutions for 
imposing stamp duties on America. The impolicy of a measure 
which made the first breach between Great Britain and her North 
American Provinces, sowed the seeds of civil war, and dismem- 
bered the empire, failed to attract attention, and in no way weak- 
ened the administration ; but their want of regard to the Princess 
Dowager, and of liberality to the King, in a matter affecting his 
private comfort, destroyed their power. Such were the fruits of 
the Bute system." 

4* 



42 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

ample, and in her very household, Miss De Berdt 
learned lessons which fitted her unconsciously for 
the duties and cares of an American wife. All the 
Americans at that ,time in London, excepting per- 
haps Dr. Franklin, whose name rarely occurs in the 
correspondence, were in the hahit of visiting fa- 
miliarly at Mr. De Berdt's house. Two of these 
who have been already mentioned, were individuals 
of peculiar and widely difi*erent careers and charac- 
ters — Stephen Sayre and Arthur Lee. Sayre had 
come to England with Mr. Reed, having been his 
classmate at Princeton College, and having evi- 
dently, as a young man, conciliated his affectionate 
regard. He was, however, a volatile, untrustworthy 
adventurer, of extremely plausible address and at- 
tractive manners. Having become in 1765 or 1766 
a partner in Mr. De Berdt's house, and thus gained 
some sort of position in London, he plunged into 
the vortex of politics and pleasure, — was on terms 
of intimacy with Wilkes and Charles Townshend, — 
wrote familiarly though deferentially to Lord Chat- 
ham, — dexterously praised his speeches to Lady 
Hester, — was elected sheriff of London, — contri- 
buted by his rash levity to the downfall of Mr. De 
Berdt's commercial credit — was committed to the 
Tower, and became a martyr of the minute on an 



ESTHEKDEBERDT. 43 

absurd charge of high treason preferred by a felloAv- 
countrjraan, — and at last wore out the residue of a 
long and fruitless life in schemes of impotent and 
discreditable intrigues in England, on the Conti- 
nent, and at home in America.* 

Arthur Lee was a person of a very different 
stamp. He was an ardent and an able man, though 
with grave defects of character, of which not the 
least was a morbid habit of jealous suspicion and 
disparagement, that continually clouded his public 
conduct. Although born in America, he was from 
childhood reared in Great Britain, having first been 
an Eton boy, and then an Edinburgh medical stu- 
dent. In 1766 he began the study of the law in 
London. Then it* was that he became intimate in 
Mr. De Berdt's family, and then too his activity in 
British American politics began, with the details of 
which every American student is, or ought to be, 
familiar. The opposition Peers patronised, and 
Junius grimly smiled on the young Virginian pam- 

* For a more minute account of Sayre's strange career, the 
reader is referred to Reed's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 27. His arrest on 
a charge of high treason, in a plan to seize the King at noonday on 
his way to Parliament, is a grotesque incident in the history of 
dwarfish times. His accuser was a certain Ensign Richardson, 
a Philadelphian, whose story is told in Graydon's Memoirs, 



44 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

phleteer. His brother William was Sayre's col- 
league in 1774 in the London Shrievalty, the strange 
spectacle being exhibited, on the edge of the Revo- 
lution, of two Americans, Lee, a Virginian, and 
Sayre, a New Yorker, holding this high municipal 
office in the metropolis. Of Mr. De Berdt, Arthur 
Lee has recorded a very high and kind opinion : 
"He is an upright, spirited, and independent old 
man, and therefore most obnoxious to Lord Hills- 
borough, who has made some mean attempts to in- 
jure him."* With Miss De Berdt Lee corresponded 

* Letter to Richard Henry Lee, 9th November, 1769. Life of 
Lee, vol. i. p. 194. In Dr. Franklin's pamphlet of 1774, on the 
Proceedings in Massachusetts, he says : " Mr. De Berdt was ap- 
pointed by the House only 7th November, 1765; he was admitted 
without the least question as agent by the Board of Trade, under 
different administrations, and Governor Bernard gave his assent 
to a bill for paying his salary so late as the year 1768. It hap- 
pened to be the duty of the agent, soon after, to convey the com- 
plaints of his constituents to the throne, both against the Minister 
and the Governor. In this business, a faithful, honest agent was 
found exceedingly troublesome. Such representations were there- 
fore made by the Governor, and such instructions sent by the 
Minister, as incapacitated the House from paying their agent, unless 
they would have one approved of by the very persons against 
whom it might be his duty to act. This measure needs no com- 
ment. It is not in human depravity to devise an act of more 
gross injustice than that'f)f debarring men of the means of defend- 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 45 

on terms of great friendliness ; and there is now be- 
fore me a letter to her, very characteristic of the 
florid sentimentalism of the times, which thus con- 
cludes : 

" Mrs. De Berdt, I suppose, gives you a profusion 
of politics ; but I must say something. Well then, 
tell Miss Edmonds that Sir George Saville is a prince 
of men ; he has called the House of Commons a set 
of scoundrels, for which he deserves to have his 
statue in gold. The Marquis will probably soon 
come in power, for the present ministry are tottering, 
and the leaders of the minority have united cordially 
together. So that Rockingham, Grenville, and 
Shclburne, must soon be in the Court Calendar. — 
Farewell ; commend me cordially to the best graces 
of the ladies of Belmont Row ; and lay me in the 
next chamber of your heart to that which Mr. Reed 
inhabits ; for I am most sincerely. Miss De Berdt's 

Humble servant, 
Arthur Lee. 

Tuesday. 

ing themselves wlicn accused, or of complaining when injured."' 
(4 Sparks, 504.) In a letter to his brother-in-law, in July, 1770, 
Mr. Reed says, " Lord Hillslx»rough has even descended to abu- 
sive language to Mr. De Berdt, and hates his very name." 



46 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

With these rapid preliminary explanations, I now 
return to the course of my narrative, and to Miss 
De Berdt's intercourse with her distant lover. Mr. 
Reed, as I have said, sailed from England in the 
early part of February, 1765, writing letters of 
affectionate farewell, successively from the Downs, 
Falmouth, and the Isle of Wight ; while Miss De 
Berdt, whose health had become seriously affected, 
in company with her mother, went to Bath, then, 
and I presume yet, a place of fashionable resort. 
I shall copy but one watering-place letter — the first 
she wrote after her lover's departure. 



CHAPTER III. 
1765. 

Corresipondence continued — Plans for Mr. Reed's return 
to England — Commercial Difficulties — Mr. Heed's 
Illness. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

Bath, March 16, 1765. 

Your setting out for America was attended with 
so many hindrances, that I question whether this 
letter will not just come at the same time with you. 
I hope it will welcome your safe arrival, and happy 
meeting with your friends, and that you will find 
everything better than we had reason to fear. If 
not, may you bear it with resignation to the will of 
Providence, and always remember that there is one 
who partakes, and by that means wishes to divide 
every misfortune that may happen to you. I am 
much obliged to you for your letters; that from 
Cowes was quite unexpected, for I had given up the 



48 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

tliouglits of hearing from you before July; and 
though I could not help being sorry you were de- 
tained so long, I felt a pleasing satisfaction at hear- 
ing you were still at so small a distance : but now, 
that thought I cannot entertain any longer, and I 
wish you may soon set your feet again on your na- 
tive shore. 

Here is nothing but diversion and gaiety, but a 
great many things are wanting to make me entirely 
happy — the two great things are, the company of 
three more of my much-loved friends, and the es- 
tablishment of my health. You desire me to be 
particular about it, or else I should have passed it 
over, till I could have given you a more favor- 
able account of it. We have been here a week, and 
I have not drunk the waters before to-day, for I 
have had a bad cough and cold, which has kept me 
at home, that I have not been at one of the public 
places, but I have everything to hope. I go to- 
night into the bath for the first time, and (my) next 
letter will, I hope, tell you that I am getting quite 
well. Mr. Powell is here ; he behaves with much 

complaisance, but nothing more When I 

compare my situation at present, and what it was 
some months ago, when I had almost taken a reso- 
lution to desire you would not come to our house 



ESTHER DE BEllDT. 49 

any more, I think myself happy. What would have 
been the consequence of such a resolution, I know 
not. But now all such thoughts as seemed to de- 
prive us of the hopes of happiness, are dislodged, 
and this, I hope, is only the rough part of the road 
which leads to pleasure. Mr. Wykoff is here, and 
they talk of his going to be married, but I don't think 
there is much in it. Mr. Powell goes for my humble 
servant at Bath ; maybe, you Avill hear this in 
A^merica ; things do get about strangely. I imagine 
my father will write by this ship. Pray give my 
compliments to Captain Macpherson, and mamma's. 
I intend to show you that I think of you sometimes, 
for I am going to work you a pair of ruffles ; there- 
fore don't expect them till you see them, for I be- 
lieve they will be a good while about. 

We hear every week from my father. His letters 
would be looked on as love-letters rather than from 
husband to wife. That's the happiness I think the 
greatest, that after twenty years living together, to 
find the same complaisance, the same warmth of 
affection as at first. This happens so seldom that 
it really would make me enter such a state with fear 
and trembling. Do you want to hear that I still 
love ? It's a truth which I am not ashamed to own, 
and at one time or another, to make it appear to all 

5 



50 ESTHER DEBEEDT. 

the world. Never doubt this till I send you word. 
Your sincere and affectionate friend, 

Esther De Berdt. 

Mr. Reed's first letter from America, where he 
arrived towards the end of April, brought the news 
of ruin and distress.* She thus receives it. 



MISS de berdt to MR. REED. 

Enfield, June 28th, 1765. 

Just as I was beginning to think the time long 
before I heard of you, I received your letter by the 
Packet. The pleasure I felt at hearing you was 
well and safe among your friends, balanced the pain 
I could not help feeling at the disagreeable news it 
brought. I own I was not surprised at it, as I was 
prepared. Indeed nobody was ; they all seemed to 
expect it ; and my good father, when he observed my 
uneasiness, in great measure removed it, by assuring 
me his regard was still the same for you, as I dare 
say you will find in his letters to you. All the con- 
cern I feel is for your family, and especially your 
good father. To think that he should be stripped 

* MS. letter to Miss De Berdt. Philadelphia, 25th April, 1765. 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 51 

of his fortune when he most stands in need of it, of 
every convenience which affluence can procure, is 
terrible indeed ; but I cannot help being glad you 
are with him. I think it must be the greatest 
pleasure he now can receive. The pleasure I should 
have in your company would be abated at the 
thought that you was so much wanted at home. So 
you see I endeavor to lessen my misfortunes by con- 
sidering what good arises from them I hope 

you have dismissed from your bosom the thoughts of 
my forgetting you, and that those of a very diffe- 
rent kind take their place. I should be almost angry 
with you for entertaining such troublesome guests, 
if I did not see by the date of your last letter, that 
you had been a month landed and not received any 
from me, which I wonder at, as I expected the first 
would have been there as soon as you. But I hope 
that long before now, you have had the pleasure of 
seeing by my letters that absence has not had it 
in its power to sever hearts so sincerely united. 

I can't form the least notion what scheme it is 
that has been proposed to you, as I have not re- 
ceived your letter by Captain Davis. He arrived 
before the Packet or Budden, but only brought the 
news of the ship's being arrived. I am uneasy till 
I see them. What seems most likely is, that they 



52 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

came too late for him, and if so they may come by 
the next York vessel. I puzzle myself to think some- 
times what it can be, though I'm sure it answers no 
end. I can only wish, that whatever it is, it may 
turn out to your advantage, and that the sovereign 
hand of unerring Providence may overrule it to our 
mutual happiness. Several of my father's letters 
from different people mention your vast success in 
business. It gives me the greatest pleasure to think, 
that amidst it all, the friends you have left behind 
have so much of your attention and regard. I am 
sure they participate your pleasures — at least I 
answer for myself. Everything has yet exceeded 
our expectations, and yours can't be raised too high 
concerning every part of our family's steadfastness 
in their esteem for you, but you will (maybe) won- 
der when I tell you that your expectations are too 
high of me. I am sure you will not find me that 
charming creature you expect. Love must have 
blinded you, or you would have seen faults that 
would make you love me less. May you be always 
blind ; but the least good quality I see myself pos- 
sessed of gives me double satisfaction, as I think 
one day it may add to your happiness. Miss Ed- 
monds and I correspond as frequently as usual. 
There is seldom a letter passes but you have a share 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 53 

in it. Some circumstances made it necessary to tell 
them our connexion. Indeed it is no secret here, 
for most of my acquaintance tell me there is some- 
thing of the sort going on ; and several families have 
every part of the story so exact, that it is not in 
my power to contradict it : the only thing I can do 
is to turn it off as a joke. Not one of the Ameri- 
cans has the least notion of it. Mr. Wykoff is to 
return home soon. He has seriously inquired of 
Mr. Powell if he had ever spoken to me or my 
father ; he told him he had, to both, so that I 
imagine he thinks he can assert the truth of that 
report. How little do they know my heart. No ; 
once dedicated, it is not easily changed. I know 
you love long letters, and I think you won't find 
fault with me, for I never wrote such long ones be- 
fore ; but my pen don't seem willing to leave off 
when I once begin to write to you, and though my 
letters don't look so long, yet, remember the writing 
is small and close. I wish I could make this fly to 
you, as it would relieve you from a state of sus- 
pense, and satisfy you that we all entertain the same 
esteem of you as ever ; but I can't say how much I 
am, dear sir, 

Your sincere and affectionate friend, 

E. D. B. 



54 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

How proud must the distant lover have been of 
such affection. The young girl who could write 
thus, was in every word giving assurance that she 
would be a cheerful and a cheering wife. She 
speaks slightly, we may imagine sadly, of Mr. Reed's 
professional success, for proud as she may have been 
of it, she could not but think of it as a new impedi- 
ment to reunion in England. 

The scheme alluded to was one of those plans of 
restlessness which, if consummated, are sure to 
be followed by disappointment and regret. It was, 
that Mr. Reed, abandoning his country and profes- 
sion, should at once come to England and enter into 
mercantile partnership with his future father-in-law. 
He seized the suggestion with avidity, and wrote 
more than one letter to Miss De Berdt, setting forth 
in the most plausible colors the arguments in its 
favor. She too thought brightly of it, and wrote 
at once the following letter on the subject, — to my 
eye, one of the most characteristic of the series, — 
in which, as it seems to me, it is not hard to detect, 
aside from the ready hopefulness with which she at 
first adopts the idea, something like a reluctance 
that her lover, of wdiom she was so proud, should, 
even for her sake, relinquish a career for which his 
talents qualified him, and in which she was sure he 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 55 

would reach high eminence. The sure instincts of 
a right-hearted woman — more trustworthy far on 
such questions than man's most deliberate wisdom — 
were at work unconsciously. Ardently as she wished 
to see her lover, serious as were the obstacles to her 
ever going to the country where alone he could attain 
professional success, she evidently recoiled from 
the idea of his being mere trading ambition. She 
feared he would regret his noble and intellectual 
profession — nay, that he might even repine at de- 
serting his distant and relatively humble home. 
Young as she was, — and who can say how soon am- 
bition so innocent springs up in a woman's heart, — 
she had cherished the ambition of being the wife of 
a distinguished man, in an eminent and learned pro- 
fession, and shrunk from the haggard vision of mer- 
cantile perplexities, the bitter daily bread of a 
merchant's life — its poor honors and precarious re- 
wards. All this, faintly shadowed forth, may be 
traced in what on the 8th of August Miss De Berdt 
wrote to America. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

Enfield, August 8th, 1765. 

I had the pleasure of receiving yours of May 2d, 
only a few days ago. You see by my last it was 



56 ESTHER DEBEUDT. 

quite unexpected. I can't imagine where it has 
been all this time, as my father's of the same date 
came three weeks ago. It is a little unlucky the 
letter of most importance should be so long coming. 
I assure you I was agreeably surprised at its con- 
tents, for among all the schemes I thought of, that 
of your coming into trade never once entered my 
mind, which I wonder at, as so many circumstances 
seem to make it agreeable. I immediately told 
mamma, who is much pleased with it ; you know it 
is what she always said would be the thing, and she 
now approves of it exceedingly. I have considered 
it thoroughly, and can see nothing that should make 
it disagreeable to any part of our family, — indeed 
the thoughts of it give me a great deal of satisfac- 
tion, and as to myself, I have not the least objec- 
tion if you can reconcile your mind to it. What I 
fear is, you would still be hankering after your own 
profession, and that would make you unhappy. If 
you don't think that would be the case, it seems to 
me to be the most promising prospect of happiness, 
which would be doubled by the thought, that by our 
means the whole family would be made easy ; as it 
would be likely to fix my dear brother for life, and 
relieve mamma from a great deal of anxiety, which 
you are sensible both she and I often have on 



ESTHERDEBERDT. 57 

that account, and the thoughts of your return so 
soon and settling in England, separate from every 
other circumstance, I confess, would make me most 
earnestly wish it. Nor do I think being a merchant 
eclipses every shining talent. There certainly are 
many opportunities of displaying them, though I 
own there are but few who make any considerable 
figure. It would make me miserable if I thought 
the tender friendship and love which you entertain 
for me, and on which I set so high a value, should 
extinguish the nobler flame of ambition. The es- 
teem which is kindled in my bosom is too refined to 
want you to live in obscurity, and I think this scheme 
which you propose will not lead to it, as it will make 
you known, and then (I speak from experience) the 

more valued in the world I shall write by 

Budden, if I have an opportunity, though I'm afraid 
I shall not, without I receive a letter from you. 
Remember, I have written eight, and have received 
but three from you. I do not grudge them you, for 
the greatest pleasure I can have in your absence is 
hearing from and writing to you. I have received 
a very obliging letter from Dr. Morgan. Indeed, I 
think myself much indebted to him ; for, knowing it 
would give me the greatest satisfaction, he mentions 
your vast success in business, and the esteem you 



58 ESTHER DE B E R D T. 

get among all who know you, and seems liappy that 
he has it in his power to give me pleasure. Those 
only, dear sir, who feel the sentiments of affection 
can form an idea how happy it makes one to hear 
those we love praised. It is commending one's own 
judgment, at the same time it gives us pleasure. 
This I have often experienced, and must thank your 
conduct for, which makes me still, with the greatest 
sincerity, 

Your affectionate friend, 

E. De Berdt. 

On the 10th, she adds a postscript, anticipating 
the adverse effect of the commercial difficulties which 
then were beginning to disturb the relations of the 
Colonies and the mother country. 

I intended, — she adds, — this should have gone 
by the Packet, but missing that opportunity and 
waiting for Budden, gives me the pleasure. I have 
received your kind letter of the 17th of June. The 
sincerity and tenderness which runs through the 
whole of it, convinces me how rightly I have judged 
of your friendship. I always was persuaded it 
would prove as lasting as it was fervent, and I now 
indulge more than ever the pleasing expectation that 



ESTHER BE BERDT. 59 

it will last for life, and mine is far from being abated 
by absence, for I daily see how worthy the object is 
on which it is placed. 

I have written you my unreserved sentiments of 
the affair you mentioned in your letter of the 2d 
May. As trade is so perplexed, and in so hazard- 
ous a situation, I imagine you have given over all 
thoughts of it at present. You in America, as you 
feel the worst effects of the difficulties, are certainly 
most chagrined at them. We are in great hopes 
something will be done to relieve you, as Lord 
Dartmouth seems bent on taking some steps to 
undo w^hat the late Ministry have done. I wish 
our expectations are not sanguine ; but if they 
should succeed, and trade return again to its right 
channel, you may, perhaps, think again of your 
scheme ; and I think that in that case there are 
many substantial reasons for it. But I would not 
desire you to act beyond your freest inclinations, 
and hope they will not carry you contrary to your 
judgment. May whatever you undertake prosper. 
Your happiness is so closely connected with mine, 
that I am influenced by whatever befalls you, and 
my heart exults with secret joy and laudable pride, 
too, at the thought how much it is in my power to 
soften your anxieties and add to your pleasures. 



60 ESTHER DE EERDT. 

Sure, I need not be ashamed to own, it is much in 
your power to add to my comfort and happiness. 
I thank you for your kind solicitude for my health, 
and have the pleasure to tell you I enjoy it much 
better than when you left me, but cannot say I am 
quite well. My old complaint of the headache 
sometimes troubles me. You don't say a word 
about your own health. I will adopt your maxim, 
and suspect if you are silent. Mamma desires her 
kind love to you, and give our affectionate regard 
to Captain Macpherson and his family. Denny, 
also, desires his compliments to you. His esteem 
increases every day for you. He often wishes you 
were a merchant, though he says he would not 
spoil a good Lord Chancellor. 

E. D. B. 

The apprehensions hinted at in this letter, as to 
Mr. Reed's health, were realized, for the next news 
from America was, that he had been dangerously ill 
with a nervous fever, the fruit of fatigue and men- 
tal distress. Observe with what tenderness, check- 
ed only by a sense of religious duty, she now writes. 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 61 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

Enfield, Sept. 19th, 1765. 

A young man from the Jerseys told us lie left 
you well the beginning of July, so that I could not 
imagine the reason of your not writing ; but now 
every fear of that sort is vanished, and my whole 
concern is for your health. A heaviness hangs on 
my mind, which will not be removed till I hear you 
are quite recovered. I can't help thinking but I 
see your hand trembled when you wrote last. 
Everything alarms my fears on your account. I 
remember you had a fever just this time twelve- 
month, when you went your tour ; and I well re- 
member how altered you looked on your return. 
Indeed, God in his providence has seen fit to over- 
shadow the morning of your life in a most remark- 
able manner. How much must I fall short of your 
expectations, for how incapable am I to help you 
to bear with resignation these strokes of adversity. 
Philosophy, too, will prove vain, unless it be of a 
religious kind, which influences the heart. May 
mine be thus influenced, and be able to say, God 
does all things well; this is what I would most 
earnestly wish for both you and myself, for certainly 
He has some wise and valuable end to answer by 
6 



62 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

all these things. I hope to have another letter 
from you soon, or else I shall be very uneasy. I 
am afraid you will be too forward again, and the 
violent heat of your summer, and so much business 
as you have on your hands, I fear will sink you 
down again ; but I hope you will be careful of your- 
self, for my sake. My father and brother were 
both exceedingly kind and tender to me, for, with- 
out knowing each other's intentions, they told me 
beforehand not to be surprised at reading your let- 
ter, for you had been ill, but was better again, as 
they knew I had not heard of your sickness. You 
mention that you wrote by way of New York, and 
since that have relapsed, but I have not received 
any such letter. The news was quite sudden. — Do 
you give your heart into my hands with transport ? 
I receive it, and shall always be proud to own it is 
my constant happiness to keep it in my possession, 
with every care it is perplexed with. I shall find a 
pleasure in endeavoring to lessen them. Since I part 
with my own heart (though it does not deserve so good 
a one in return), it would be hard to be a loser by 
the gift. I have been persuaded a long time I am 
not nor ever shall be. It is this that makes me 
write with so much pleasure and confidence, and is 
one of my greatest comforts. 



ESTHER DEBERDTc 63 

Opportunities of writing have not offered so fre- 
quently lately as they did the beginning of the 
summer. I hope for the pleasure of writing again 
before the next Philadelphia ship. This has been 
the longest seven months I ever spent in my life. 
It is just about so long since you went away. You 
need have no fears of my father's losses in America 
affecting his esteem for you. He shows it in many 
instances, and especially by his care of your reli- 
gious and moral character, which he often expresses 
with the greatest affection, and is frequently saying 
he hopes you will not suffer in that respect. It 
gives me the greatest pleasure to hear it, as it ap- 
pears like the tender concern of a father. He will 
certainly, I am afraid, lose a good deal of money 
this year in America. You will see he is much dis- 
pleased with Mr. Rogers's conduct, and I can't help 
thinking but he has great reason. 

I should be glad to know who nursed you in your 
sickness. If you was at a friend's house, I should 
like to know to whom I owe my thanks for their 
care, which I shall do in my own mind, though I can't 
do it openly ; — or whether you are in a house of 
your own, though I hardly think you know what to do 
in one, only yourself. I heard you had taken your 
brother Bowes into your office to study law. I 



64 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

hope it will answer, as I have concern for the pros- 
perity of every one connected with you.* . . . 
It would be ungenerous in me to complain, as every- 
thing is done to make me easy, and I shall be so 
when I hear you are recovered again. I hope 
there are still some great blessings in store for you, 
and after so many difficulties and perplexities you 
will taste the more sweetness in them ; and it may, 
perhaps, be my lot to be one of your comforts, and 
share in the rest. God only knows if our wishes 
will be crowned with success. Your illness dejects 
my spirits, as it undermines the foundations of my 
hopes : but by this time you may be quite well and 
about business again. I own it is foolish to fore- 
bode misfortunes ; that I endeavor much against, 
and still hope the best, — nor would I repine at the 
hand of God, or murmur against Heaven ; but yet, 
a thousand anxious fears will arise, and it is impos- 
sible to help it when so dear a friend is concerned. 
Mamma desires her affectionate regards to you, and 
says she does not know which she loves best, you 
or her own children. 

Your most affectionate friend, 

E. De Berdt. 

* Mr. Bowes Reed was Mr. Reed's own brother. He was the 
grandfather of the present Bishop Mllvame, of Ohio. 



CHAPTER IV. 

1765-1766. 

Correspondence continued — Repeal of the Stamp Act — 
Rockingham Ministry — Mr. Reed's Letters from Ame- 
rica — Debates in Parliament — Petition of the Stamp 
Act Congress — Mr. Pittas Speech. 

Her next letter, a few months later, shows that 
the ill-conceived plan of Mr. Reed's entering into 
trade was abandoned. The letter has some allu- 
sions to public and local affairs, of which she writes 
intelligently and unaffectedly ; and its date is coin- 
cident with the brief period between the passage 
of the Stamp Act and the formation of Lord Rock- 
ingham's first Ministry. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

London, November 9th, 1765. 

Under the influence of a thousand gloomy and 
anxious fears, I was just going to write to you, and 
I received your kind letter by way of Ireland. 

6* 



Q6 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

None but those who feel the same sincere friend- 
ship, can tell the pleasure it gave me to hear your 
health was likely to be re-established ; and another 
letter to-day has made me quite easy on that ac- 
count. I think I never prized any letter more that 
I have yet received from you, for it is two months 
since I heard from you of your bad state of health. 
Indeed, I had one since, but it was of a much 
earlier date than the one I answered a few weeks 
ago, and it only gave me the most discouraging ac- 
counts both of your health and difficulties, which 
sunk my heart in the tenderest concern and solici- 
tude, and it would often appear in spite of all my 
efforts to conceal it. But now I am happy in 
the thought of your recovery, and in finding too 
that your usual flow of spirits is returned again. 
May you always and constantly receive every 
blessing a kind and indulgent Providence can be- 
stow, is my most earnest prayer ; and if we should 
be so favored as to spend our lives together, I hope 
it will be for our mutual happiness, and to bring 
honor to God. We are now returned to London 
for the winter. I came with much regret. It 
brings to my remembrance scenes of pleasure which 
I cannot taste. There is constantly something 
happening that brings you fresh to mind. Every 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 67 

Sunday I still seem to expect you to dinner, and 
I have not yet been able to keep up my spirits as 
well as usual on that day. But I will not say any 
more of this ; I shall make you dull, as it some- 
times makes me pensive : but this is as true, that 
my esteem is not at all abated, and will still live 
and flourish, though all the chilling frosts of adver- 
sity should conspire to destroy it. You tell me I 
must forgive your impatience, and you must in re- 
turn forgive me if I sometimes express fears which 
rise in my breast and cloud my hopes and expecta- 
tions. ... I don't wonder at your dropping 
the thoughts at present of coming into trade, for it 
really is in so bad a situation, that those who are in 
would gladly resign if it were in their power. I 
do not think it can grow worse. . . . We are sur- 
rounded with Boston men, who are so hot about 
these new regulations, that we have heard of little 
else for a long time. Indeed we have a great many 
calamities. The Duke of Cumberland's death, it is 
thought, will make some alterations for the worse 
in state affairs, but we know there is an overruling 
Providence, which orders all things for the best. 
Yesterday, there was a most dreadful fire in the 
city at the bottom of Cornhill, where the four streets 
meet. All the four corner houses were on fire at 



68 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

once. It is said that about one hundred houses are 
burned down, and a great many lives lost of many 
families, all but one poor little child are yet miss- 
ing. Mr. Burnit has a cousin burnt out. The wind 
blew very fresh, and one house fell upon the main 
spring of water, so that it was a long time before the 
engines could get supplied. What a mercy it is to be 
kept in safety while others are plunged in ruin and 
distress.* I am pleased that Mr. Pettit is with you, 
as it must be a relief in many things which otherways 
would have laid much heavier. I wish Mr. Pettit 
may succeed in everything he undertakes. f I feel 
much for them, and shall always be glad to hear of 
the welfare of any of your family. You will see by 
my father's letter what likelihoods there are of any 
alteration in American affairs. He does not know 
of my writing to you now, but I am persuaded I 
give and know I take so much pleasure, that he 
must pardon me if I transgress the limits he has 
prescribed. ... I wish I could tell you my health 
was perfectly restored, but it is indifferent, though 

* The Duke of Cumberland, the King's uncle, the " Butcher" 
of Culloden, died suddenly on the 13th October. A minute ac- 
count of the fire mentioned by Miss De Berdt will be found in 
the Annual Register for 1765. 

t Mrs. Pettit was Mr. Reed's half sister. 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 69 

I am still much better than when you were in Eng- 
land. I am rather grown fat. This day last year 
saw me much happier. Don't you remember see- 
ing Lord Mayor's show by water, but I (illegible) 
you to say no more of what has been of this sort. 
Next (illegible) we may see it together again. This 
is a most pleasing thought. Mamma desires her 
best regards to you, and believe me to be, with un- 
altered esteem, my dear sir, 

Yours sincerely, 

E. De Berdt. 

Let me here depart from the rule of exclusion, 
which I had prescribed for myself, by inserting one 
letter from Mr. Reed, in reply to Miss De Berdt's 
of November, in which he describes his domestic 
situation, and the heavy responsibilities under which 
he was cheerfully laboring. The commercial scheme 
still, though feebly, lingers in his heart. 

MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

Trenton, January 13th, 1766. 

My Dear Hetty : 

I catch at this opportunity, of which I am just 
apprised, to thank you for your dear favors by 
Sparks and Robinson. The tenderness they breathe 



70 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

would have made me well if I had not been so 
before ; but I have been long since perfectly reco- 
vered, and I can now (think) of your tender concern 
for my health with no other emotion than the plea- 
sure of being the object of your pity and regard. 
My illness lasted a good while, though I never 
thought it a dangerous one, and since it has left 
me I think I have enjoyed a higher degree of health 
than ever. But were it not for the concern it gives 
you, I could almost consent to be sick again, since 
it has induced you to unbosom yourself with more 
freedom, and placed a confidence in me which is 
the pride and pleasure of my life. 

I find several letters which I have written by 
the way of Ireland have not reached you. In one 
of them I described my situation as to family in 
such a manner as would have saved you the trouble 
of asking who nursed me. I have been, much against 
my inclination, obliged to keep house ever since my 
return, and you will perhaps be surprised when I 
tell you that my family consists of nine persons 
besides servants, — but, so it is, and I have been 
under the unavoidable necessity of supporting all 
these, besides my father, who chose to retire into the 
country, where he still continues. My sister Pettit 
is very dear to me, notwithstanding she is but my 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 71 

half sister, and has been the cause, though an invo- 
luntary one, of all my misfortunes, and as the re- 
collection would do no good, I have endeavored to 
behave to her with the same tenderness as though 
they had not happened.* As there were no oppor- 
tunities for Mr. Pettit to put himself in business in 
Philadelphia, and he had a prospect of doing some- 
thing in Nova Scotia, he went there last summer, 
and my sister with three children came up to live 
with me. He returned a few weeks ago, and they 
and my two brothers and sister make no inconside- 
rable family. How long this will continue I cannot 
say, but I hope not longer than next spring ; but 
if Mr. Pettit should go to Nova Scotia with his 
family, or otherwise provide for them, there will 
still be four of us, and I think it most likely I 
shall continue to keep house, as my sister is past 
fourteen, and prudent beyond her years ; but I am 
yet far from being determined on this head.f 

I have taken my brother Bowes into my office, 
as I had no other way of providing for him, but I 
have no expectation of his making a great figure, 

* Mr. Pettit had been unfortunate in commercial business, 

t This was a younger and only own sister, Mary^ who died 

unmarried in 1785, having outlived both Mr. Reed and Miss De 

Berdt. 



72 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

and it was only because I could do no better. My 
uncle has it much in his power to assist me, but he 
has left me hitherto to struggle with my difficulties 
as well as I can. However, my income I believe 
would have been equal to them all if the Stamp 
Act had not interfered. This has hurt me prodigi- 
ously, and exhausted all the little store my first 
success had given me. I hope for better times, 
and with this keep up my spirits as well as I can. 
As to my former scheme, while I am absent from 
you I shall always be fond of it, for it is impossible 
that anything can ever be more desirable to me 
than an opportunity of once more seeing my dear 
charmer, and anything that flatters these wishes 
will lie very near my heart ; but you know even my 
warmest desires to bring this about could not effect 
it without the consent of many who may have insu- 
perable objections, and, indeed, I fear it would be 
entering into a dependency that might be uneasy 
even to yourself, but the joy and happiness of call- 
ing you mine, and being united with you for ever, 
so far outweighs every other consideration, that I 
dare not pretend to judge what is most proper or 
convenient. 

From this time forward, and more especially 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 73 

during the year 1766, when Mr. De Berdt, as Agent 
for the Stamp Act Congress, and for several Colonies, 
was brought in direct relation to public affairs, and 
to men in office, the correspondence is filled with 
allusions to political matters, and to the varying 
phases of the pending dispute between the Colonies 
and the mother country. The following extracts 
from letters of Miss De Berdt and her father, 
during this year, are historically curious. It must 
be remembered throughout that it is a young woman, 
and not a politician, who is writing, — one who hears 
and repeats the echoes of her father's house. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

London, 7th of February, 1766. 

You will see by my last letters the plan that was 
then only thought of about our good friend Sayre. 
It is now so far concluded as the situation of affairs 
will admit. I dare say it will give you pleasure. 
It depends on the removing the difficulties you 
labor under in America, for nobody can think of 
entering into trade when there is no prospect of 
anything to do, and my father has deferred men- 
tioning it, till affairs are a little settled, which can- 
not be long now. The House of Lords are most 

7 



74 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

your enemies. There were but five who voted for 
your right of taxing yourselves. One of them was 
Lord Chief Justice Pratt, though most of the gen- 
tlemen of the law in the Commons were on the 
other side of the question.* 

* On 4th of February (misdated 15th of January), Mr. Pitt 
wrote to Lady Chatham one of the charming familiar letters that 
brighten his more stately and formal correspondence. 

" Bond Street, 12 o'clock, January 15th, 1766. 

" I am just out of bed, my dearest life, and considering the 

great fatigue — not getting to bed till past 4, — I am tolerably well, 

my hand not worse, my country not better. We (number three) 

debated strenuously the rights of America, The resolution passed 

for England's right to do what the Treasury pleases with three 

millions of freemen. Lord Camden in the Lords divine, * * but 

one voice about him. They divided : we did not. Five lords — 

the division, Camden, Shelburne, Paulet, Cornwallis, Torrington. 

I am not able to attend again to-day, when more resolutions are 

to be moved. It is probable the main question of Repeal will 

not come on till Friday or Monday. Send the coach, my love, 

to-morrow morning, and I shall then have it in my power to do 

as events allow. At present, adieu! Kiss our dear babes for 

me. 

" Your ever loving husband, 

" William Pitt." 

The favorite countersigns of the "rebel" army at Cambridge, 
were the names of opposition Peers. I have before me an origi- 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 75 

We have many doubts about the repeal of the 
Stamp Act, as Lord Bute is determined to try all 
his weight against it, because Mr. Pitt is for it, and 
I assure you we are in as much anxiety here as you 
are in America, for the manufacturers are ripe for 
tumult, and that is really the most favorable cir- 
cumstance that could happen.* I mention these 
circumstances as I think you will like to hear on 
what point things turn, and perhaps Papa may not 

na] page of the Orderly Book, with Washington's autograph 
countersigns for several days in August, 1775, — " Yarmouth, Ar- 
lington, Bedford, and Torrington." 

* About this time Lord Chesterfield — always a good friend to 
America — thus pleasantly wrote to his son. 

" You will probably wonder that I tell you nothing of public 
matters ; upon which I shall be as secret as Hotspur's gentle Kate, 
who would not tell what she did not know ; but, what is singular, 
nobody seems to know any more of them than I do. People gape, 
stare, conjecture, and define. Changes of the Ministry or in the 
Ministry are daily reported or foretold ; but of what kind, God 
only knows. It is also very doubtful whether Mr. Pitt will come 
into the Administration or not. The two present Secretaries are 
extremely desirous that he should ; but the others think of the 
horse that called the master to its assistance. I will say nothing 
about American afiairs, because I have not pens, ink, or paper- 
enough to give you an intelligent account of them. The repeal 
of the Stamp Act is at last carried through. I am glad of it, and 
gave my proxy for it." — Vol. iv. p. 420. 



<b ESTHER DEBERDT. 

be quite so particular, but if it should be what you 
hear by everybody, you must remember that it was 
my intention to tell you more than anybody else. 
Mr. Sayre is thinking many ways of opening a way 
for your coming to settle in England ; and we have 
some few pleasant hours in talking of them. None 
are yet well grounded enough to tell you of. None 
but those whose esteem is as fervent and sincere as 
mine, can tell the different emotions of my heart 
when one scheme appears promising and then some 
circumstance comes in and dashes all to the ground 
again. I am persuaded your inclination is to em- 
brace any opportunity that should offer, that ap- 
peared favorable, but this is my fear sometimes that 
you would not be happy, unless you had a prefer- 
ence in your business here as you have in America, 
which thought, I confess, gives me many a pensive 
hour. Forgive me, my dear sir ; it arises from the 
most tender concern for your happiness, which lies 
near my heart. 

In the early part of March, 1766, the Stamp Act 
was repealed. The news was carried to America 
by the brig Minerva, Captain Wise, a vessel char- 
tered especially for the purpose by Mr. De Berdt 
and the other Agents. It bore also the following 



ESTHER DEBEEDT. 77 

private letter to Mr. Reed, written on the day of 
repeal. 

MR. DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

London, March 18th, 1766. 

Dear Sir — 

I doubt not but this will be welcome to you on 
more accounts than one, especially as it brings you 
an account of the complete repeal of the Stamp 
Act, which we send by a vessel hired on purpose to 
ease the minds of our friends in America as soon 
as possible, by a general letter to each Province. I 
hoped it might give you some weight in the Province 
to have a particular letter by the Merchants' Ex- 
press, which also gives me an opportunity of imme- 
diately answering yours of the 13th January, per 
Packet. ... I am very glad to hear your health 
is restored, which will better enable you to bear the 
burthen Providence at present lays upon you. . . . 
I am glad to hear what I wrote pleases my friends. 
I wrote it in the sincerity of my heart to serve them, 
and your showing it prudently does me honor ; but 
some letters I have sent to New York have been 
imprudently printed there in the News, which com- 
ing back here may give offence, and thereby 
weaken my interest. I have much money locked 
7* 



78 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

up in America. To jou, as a friend, I may say 
.£50,000, that more business till that circulates 
would only embarrass me. If I can be publicly use- 
ful in the last stage of life, it will be a peculiar 
pleasure to me. I have pursued your affairs with 
all my might, and think myself very happy that I 
introduced the Congress Petition before the House 
without offending the Ministry, notwithstanding the 
Congress itself was deemed illegal, which had its full 
weight by Mr. Pitt's taking it up, and declared that 
the greatest defect he saw in it was that one of the 
petitioners' names was " Oliver :" but Denny wrote 
.you the affair at large as I had not time.* But I 

* I very much regret that this and other letters at this time 
from the younger Mr, De Berdt are lost. The allusion in the text 
to Mr. Pitt's speech on the Congress Petition of 1765, is all that 
has survived, even as a tradition of that occasion. It probably 
was the debate of the 21st January, on American Papers. " No re- 
port," say the editors of the Chatham Correspondence, " of Mr, 
Pitt's speech on this memorable occasion has been preserved," 
and it was after it that Lord Charlemont wrote to Mr. Flood, 
" Heavens! what a fellow is this Pitt! I had his bust before; but 
nothing less than his statue shall content me now." (2 Chatham 
Corr. p. 390.) Is it not strange that the only fragment of a great 
Parliamentary oration, should be thus accidentally preserved. The 
'• Oliver " of Mr. Pitt's allusion, was " Oliver Partridge," a mem- 
ber of the Stamp Act Congress from Massachusetts. There was 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 79 

have wrote you several letters from time to time, 
which, as they are received will relieve you. Though 
when you are warmed with gratitudey he not so for- 
ward in raising money on any occasion hut that of 
a new war, which, in my opinion, may not he at a 
great distance. We have every year such encroach- 
ments and broils about the Fishery. I thank you 
for your hint about Nova Scotia. It is in general 
a bleak, barren country, but shall judge of that when 
you write more fully on that head. I wish in re- 
turn I had influence enough in America to procure 
you a good Agency, for it is generally thought your 
friend Mr. (Jackson) will resign. You shall have 
the advice, weight, and influence of 

Yours truly, 

D. De Berdt. 

much spirit as well as sagacity in tliat part of Mr. De Berdt's 
letter in the text which I have italicised. Lady Hervey, in a let- 
ter of 20th March, 1766 (Letters, p. 313), says, " Mr. Pitt's 
famous speech the first day of the meeting this session (which I 
hear was the finest thing that could be) has disobliged all sides, 
because he, Almanzor like, attacked all sides most vigorously, and 
what they call, gave them their own, which few like or indeed have 
reason to like. His opinion about the power of taxing the Colo- 
nies seems to be peculiar to himself and Lord Camden." 



CHAPTER V. 

1766. 

Plans of Agency in England — Lord Dartmouth — Stephen 
JSai/re's Letters — Charles Townshend and William 
Kelly — Letter to Lord Dartmouth — Visit to the House 
of Commons — Pitty Townshend, Grenville and Wedder- 
hurne — Correspondence — Richard Stockton — Ameri- 
can Sinecures. 

The allusion at tlie end of the last letter to a 
colonial agency for Mr. Reed, refers to another plan 
of the lovers and their friends to enable him to re- 
turn to England, and which, like that of coming 
into trade, was happily frustrated. His American 
destiny was not to be thwarted. It seems to have 
been supposed that Mr. Reed might come out as an 
assistant to Mr. De Berdt, should Massachusetts 
put her Agency on a permanent footing, or secure a 
separate Agency for himself. The official influence 
on which Mr. De Berdt most relied was that of Lord 
Dartmouth, a Lord of Trade under the Rockingham 



ESTHER DE BE RDT. 81 

Administration ; whilst Stephen Sayre, then, as 
ever, bustling and busy, and who recently had be- 
come a partner in Mr. De Berdt's commercial 
house, was calculating as confidently on the patron- 
age of Charles Townshend, at the height of his 
brief and brilliant Parliamentary fame, and who 
soon after became, unhappily as it turned out, Chan- 
cellor of the Exchequer. 

William, second Earl of Dartmouth, held office 
as the first Lord of Trade but for a short time, and, 
as will be seen, refused to continue under the next 
Administration, because they neglected or refused 
to create for him a new department or secretaryship, 
especially devoted to American afiairs.* He seems 
to have been an amiable and religious man, with 
strong sympathies with the dissenting interest. 
Frequent references to him will be found in Lady 
Huntingdon's curious Memoirs, for he was one of her 
ladyship's staunches t friends, and his piety, the sin- 
cerity of which there is no reason to question, was 
the natural object of the gibes and sarcasms of 
scofi'ers, such as Walpole and Rigby. It was the 
day when the court permitted a bufibon to caricature 
good men because they were Methodists, but promptly 

* His letter on this subject to Mr. De Berdt, will be found in 
Reed's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 46. 



82 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

interposed to shield a licentious Duchess when 
she became the ribald's target. A religious public 
man like Lord Dartmouth, in such times has a poor 
chance of fame. Americans, however, should, in a 
measure at least, cherish it. He was a friend of their 
cause when friends were few.* Charles Townshend's 

* Cowper alludes to Lord Dartmouth in his table talk, " Truth :" 

" We boast some rich ones whom the Gospel sways, 
And one who wears a coronet and prays, 
Like gleaning of an olive tree they show. 
Here and there one upon the topmost bough." 

The most minute particulars of the Earl of Dartmouth are to 
be found in Lady Huntingdon's Life — a book easily ridiculed by 
those who read to ridicule, but which is full of curious and 
valuable materials (vol. ii. p. 32). Foote's farce of "The Minor" 
was represented with great success, being levelled at Whitfield, 
while the notorious Duchess of Kingston had influence enough to 
suppress a satire directed at her (Id. vol. i. p. 209), Every reader 
of Horace Walpole remembers the description of the religious 
service at the Magdalen House (Id. vol. iv. p. 20), in which Lord 
Dartmouth is grotesquely introduced. Mr. Rigby, in a letter of 
5th August, 1765, to the Duke of Bedford, says: "Their (the 
Rockingham) Board of Trade, it is said, is not yet fixed, except 
Lord Dartmouth for its head, who, I don't hear, has yet recom- 
mended Whitfield as Bishop of Quebec." (Bedford Correspon- 
dence, vol. iii. pp. 222, 313.) I have thrown together these scat- 
tered references to Lord D., as his name frequently occurs in the 
letters which follow. 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 83 

fame and character every one knows. He was ra- 
ther the acquaintance of Stephen Sayre than of the 
De Berdts. 

The following extracts of letters from Sayre to 
Mr. Reed, the writer having in the summer of 1766 
come to America, on the business of the house of 
the De Berdts, are in some respects curious. It 
would seem that Mr. Townshend and some of his 
friends had become, or were willing to become, 
interested in American land speculations. The 
allusions are unintelligible, and the more so as 
the writer was a boastful and very untrustworthy 
person. 

STEPHEN SAYRE TO MR. REED. 

Boston, 19th June, 1766. 

My dearest Friend : 

I now have the pleasure of acquainting you with 
my arrival after a most agreeable passage (except 
in point of society, which was very indifferent). As 
I have not yet been two days in this place, I can't 
give you any further account of it than what ap- 
pears to the eye, which is agreeable enough. ... I 
have a thousand things to talk of when we meet ; 
at present you must excuse me, and rather attend 



84 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

to business. I know you don't want inclination to 
serve your father-in-law, but perhaps you can't con- 
ceive how difficult it is just at this time to support 
credit as it ought to be, and most of the money due 
to the old partnership is in Philadelphia, where they 
are, beyond example, remiss in payment. It really 
appears that many of our correspondents don't seem 
even to think of anything more than ordering goods. 
They have, for some months past, been unable to 
make any considerable remittances, which I suppose 
will be the case yet longer, otherwise you would 
have now seen me in that province ; but as it is vain 
to press hard upon inability, I thought it would be 
time enough to be there in the fall or winter, by 
which time they will collect a little Spanish silver. 
Some other inducement suggesting, such as the 
probability of making some new acquaintances who 
were in the fishery, and consequently have a good 
remittance in their hands, &c., prevailed upon us to 
my embarking for this province. 

You may venture to assure our friends, not only 
that Mr. De Berdt himself, but your humble ser- 
vant, have been most assiduous in their applica- 
tion for relief in all our commercial interests, and 
though we are out of expectations of seeing any- 
thing take place this year, further than that of 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 85 

lowering the duty on molasses, yet we have made so 
many of the people in power masters of our griev- 
ances and true circumstances, that we have good 
reason to expect great relief. I claim to my own 
share the whole merit of opening Dominica as a 
free port, which, upon the arguments I have made 
use of, was at last considered as a laudable measure, 
and upon due consideration was adopted so far by 
the Committee of Merchants, that they brought evi- 
dence to the Bar of the Commons, who made it 
demonstratively clear that it was absolutely a most 
advantageous regulation. Mr. Charles Townshend 
made a noble and spirited speech in favor of it, 
but by the disjointed, unstable situation of the 
Ministry, that, with many others, is likely to 
pass over for this year. I am lately become 
a great favorite with Mr. Townshend : he has very 
particularly desired me to keep up a constant and 
steady correspondence with him while in America, 
that he may be furnished with materials and all 
necessary measures to be taken for us, which, he 
says, he hopes to support with more steadiness than 
we may expect from his character. I have his 
order to purchase lands for him in the province of 
New York, and I am convinced nothing can serve 
our interest so effectually as making some of these 



86 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

people of influence proprietors of some of our 
lands. You sec my sheet is full. My next may be 
more particular. Pray write to me immediately; 
direct to me at Mrs. Weatherhead's, near the King's 
Chapel. 

MR. SAYRE TO MR. REED. 

Boston, 3d September, 17G6. 

I received your letter last night, just in time to 
convey such arguments to Mr. Townshend as it 
afforded me, and hope he will be induced to make 
some purchases in that province, for apparent or 
real interest has as much weight with him as any 
man I know of. I am glad to hear you say, you 
would make the first attempt to settle the Niagara 
tract, provided we had the grant for it. I had wrote 
so to Mr. Townshend upon mere presumption, de- 
siring him to include Mr. De Berdt and ourselves 
in the patent. I wish you could, by some friend, 
bring in Sir William Johnson, to take a share, for 
his interest with the Senecas would facilitate every- 
thing here. 

I have wrote by this post to New York to Mr. 
Kelly, who is more particularly acquainted with 
Mr. Townshend than I am, for he dined constantly 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 87 

at his table while I was in England. He really 
was very serviceable in our difficulties, and chiefly 
biassed Townshend in so vehemently trimming Mr. 
Grenville upon making that motion in the Commons 
to petition his Majesty to enforce all laws, etc. ; for 
the motion was overruled chiefly by Townshend, 
which caused Mr. Pitt to say, that had he known 
Townshend stood on that ground, he should not that 
day have come to the House ; and I assure you I 
can't say enough in praise of' Kelly in those 
matters, and I have desired him to write to Sir 
William about it. If Kelly will recommend it, I 
answer it will stimulate him to prosecute the afiair. 
I am very friendly with Kelly, who expresses vast 
regard for me. We happened to agree most exactly 
in our ideas of trade, long before we became ac- 
quainted.* 

* In one of the many pamphlets which, in this year (1766), 
were published, on Mr. Pitt's accession to the peerage, is one 
entitled " A Short Tleiv of the Political Life and Transactions of a 
late Right Honorable Commoner" in which, at p. 67, is the folloM'ing 
reference to Mr. Kelly and Charles Townshend. I copy it here, 
as the tract is rare. After praising in very strong terms Mr. 
Townshend for his active exertions in procuring the Repeal of 
the Stamp Act, the writer says : " Mr. Townshend had conversed 
with the most intelligent well-wishers both to the mother country 
and the colonies : his materials were admirable, and those who 



88 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

The only other letter on public affairs is one 
from Mr. De Berdt to Lord Dartmouth, on his re- 
tirement from office in August, 1766. It has all 
the characteristic earnestness of the old gentleman's 
peculiar style, and is in answer to one published in 
Mr. Reed's Memoirs.* 

have ever heard him speak need not be told what an additional 
force they acquired from the exquisite coloring of so masterly an 
orator. Indeed, Mr. Townshend himself acknowledged the pains 
he had been at to collect his materials, and in a most elegant speech 
after the Stamp Act was repealed, very visibly glanced at Mr. 
William Kelly, of New York, as the person to whom he was 
principally indebted for his information. Mr. Kelly was a mer- 
chant of the first eminence at New York, but had retired from 
business for some time, and lived independent on his fortune. 
He was, however, perfectly conversant with the mutual interest 
of Great Britain and the Colonies, and to an understanding natu- 
rally excellent, had joined all the advantages of an extensive ex- 
perience. Antecedent to the Repeal, he had been examined 
before the House of Commons about the affairs of America; and 
though his examination continued almost four hours, he acquitted 
himself through the whole with a politeness, a perspicuity, and a 
manliness, that gained him the highest reputation from that illus- 
trious assembly." 
* Vol. i. p. 46. 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 89 

MR. DE BERDT TO LORD DARTMOUTH. 

Enfield, August 22d, 1766. 

My Lord, 

Your condescending and obliging letter of the 
13th fills me with fresh concern, and that concern 
will run throughout America at your lordship's 
resignation, as it discovers that paternal affection 
which America has no right to expect from a step- 
mother. Your sentiments of that people are ex- 
ceeding just, and the sound principles of religion 
and liberty those with whom I have been connected 
do certainly entertain, has greatly endeared me to 
that country ; and I am satisfied, had your Lord- 
ship's connexions with them been longer and more 
intimate, it would have further engaged your atten- 
tion, and would have given your lordship a high 
satisfaction to see religion and liberty flourish under 
your auspicious influence. It gives me a pleasure 
to be the medium of conveying to your lordship the 
grateful sentiments the House of Representatives 
of (illegible), on behalf of that Province, testify to 
your lordship and several others of their patrons, 
as far as come to their knowledge, by a vote of 
their Assembly, which accompanies this ; and by 



90 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

their letters to me ^111011 attended it, plainly dis- 
covering their duty to and affection for their king 
and mother country, which will ever be growing 
and increasing while a paternal love and authority 
are exercised over the whole family. The only 
quieting consideration is, as your Lordship hints, 
that the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth, and I 
cannot but hope that in his own time, your Lordship 
will be placed in a station to serve America, in 
which they will rejoice, and to which you have no 
aversion. But he that believeth must not make 
haste. I wish your Lordship health in your retire- 
ment from the hurries of Court, and much of the 
presence of God to sweeten every enjoyment. 
I am your Lordship's 

Obedient and humble servant, 

Dennis De Berdt.* 

But I fear, in this discursive allusion to public 
affairs, I am losing sight of my personal narrative, 
and whatever interest it may possess. Miss De 

* As I am writing these lines (March, 1848), I have received 
an impression of the elder Mr. De Berdt's seal, which is charac- 
teristic. It has the letters " D. D.," and below, " 1 Mace. xii. 18," 
the text being, " Wherefore ye shall do well to give us an answer 
hereto." 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 91 

Berdt, her heart deeply interested in all that related 
to America, sometimes became a politician too, and 
wrote well and intelligently as to what she saw and 
heard around her. In a letter of the 25th of April, 
1766, she describes a visit to the House of Com- 
mons in its palmiest days of deliberative renown. 

"Mamma and I, a few days ago, were in the 
House of Commons, and were most agreeably en- 
tertained by hearing Mr. Pitt speak several times, 
and Mr. Charles Townshend. Mr. Pitt then ap- 
peared the venerable orator, and seems to speak 
the sentiments of his heart with ease. Charles 
Townshend is the young florid speaker, and I think 
with a great deal of eloquence. He commands 
attention as much as Mr. Pitt, but I was quite 
amazed at the confusion and disorder which there 
is in the House, though I have heard so much of 
it before. I knew Mr. Grenville by seeing his 
picture in the print of the Repeal, and Counsellor 
Wedderburne, too.* They both spoke, but every- 
body seemed so insipid after the other great men, 
it quite tired our patience, especially those two 
persons who are such enemies to America. We 

* This, I presume, was the caricature print, a copy of which 
is preserved among the Simitiere MSS. in the Philadelphia Li- 
brary. 



92 ESTHER DE BEBDT. 

heard Mr. Dowdeswell, and, indeed, almost all the 
great men in the House. For the first time we 
were very lucky ; we only wanted you with us to 
have made it completely agreeable. From anybody 
else you would think this only a compliment, but 
you may be assured / speak it from the dictates of 
my heart, which makes me ever wish for your com- 
pany I should be glad if you can get any 

information about lands worth communicating to 
Lord Dartmouth, as the Board of Trade seem to 
be a little perplexed. Sayre is to write him from 
the northern part of America, and when he comes 
toward your Province, he can easily leave it to you 
to send the intelligence. It will give you some 
weight, and make you a little more known here, 
which cannot hurt you, and may be of service. 
Adieu, and believe me, my very dear friend, 
" Yours, afi'ectionately, 

"E. D. B." 

As a matter of mere curiosity I have tried, but 
in vain, to identify the debate to which Miss De 
Berdt and her mother were listeners. The Parlia- 
mentary History, that most tantalizing scrap-book 
of great men's sayings and doings, exhibits a nearly 
perfect void in March and April, 1766. It simply 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 93 

records the action of the House of Commons on 
the subject of General Warrants and the seizure of 
papers, on the 22d April, but refers to no debate. 
On the 24th, however, as appears from a letter 
from Mr. Rigby to the Duke of Bedford, there was 
a spirited debate, in which both Pitt and Grenville 
took part, no others being mentioned.* This, how- 
ever, hardly answers to the " few days ago" of Miss 
De Berdt's letter. 

This and the next year (1766-1767), wore along 
tediously and anxiously for those who were watch- 
ing the chapter of accidents with so much solicitude, 
and hoping that every moment would reveal some 
ground of hope. New and ill-defined plans for 
Agencies, and other modes of occupation in Eng- 
land were suggested, discussed, and abandoned, 
and the end of the time found the American lawyer 
more closely riveted than ever to his native coun- 
try ; and the English girl, faith and constancy to 
her lover in no way shaken, still clinging with filial 
affection to her home, her father and mother. I 
shall now do little else, — for I find I am verging 
closely on the limits I had prescribed for myself — 

* Bedford Correspondence, vol. iii. p. 333. 



94 ESTHER DEBERDT. 

than make a sort of index of the correspondence 
for these years, extracting occasionally such single 
sentences as seem to be illustrative of the writers 
personally, or of their times. It was, let it be re- 
collected, that dim and perplexed period of history 
between the Stamp Act and the Revenue Bills of 
1767, when the shadow of a coming great event, 
cast by the sinking orb of imperial authority, rested 
gloomily on the land.* When both Great Britain 
and America were restless, and anxious, and chafed, 
and no one knew where new trouble would come 
from, or what it would be. 

MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

Trenton, May 1st, 1766. 

No, I assure you, I never entertained a thought 
of your coming to America, while it gives your pa- 

* My figure may be a little elaborate, and for aught I knoM% 
unintelligible, but it has its origin in a very bright and distinct 
reality. On the 30th of June, 1845, it was my lot to enjoy, in full 
perfection, a sunset view from the Rhigi, and not the least striking 
feature of the scene (and so it seemed to eyes more capable of 
appreciating it than mine), was the effect of the shadow cast in 
the setting sun, by the dark reality on which we stood — the moun- 
tain itself — on the bright prospect on which we gazed. It seemed 
as if a sombre and gigantic figure was rising up to devour or de- 
face the peaceful scene. 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 95 

rents pain. . . . Make yourself easy on this score, 
my dearest love, and be assured tliat if Providence 
points any tolerable way or prospect of my settling 
in England, there it shall be. In possessing you, I 
shall be richly rewarded for any anxiety I may feel 
in bidding adieu to my friends and native country. 
With you I can be happy anywhere ; without you, 
nowhere ; and indeed it is upon your account that 
I am anxious not to appear altogether inconsiderable 
in the world and languish in obscurity, but I submit 
it, my love, to your own judgment, whether an ho- 
norable distinction and affluent fortune would not be 
more eligible in America, than to live unregarded 
and with a scanty income in England. 

On the 7th of August, she thus answers these 
suggestions : 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

I can't forgive myself for giving you cause for 
some expressions in your letter. My greatest plea- 
sure arises from your approbation and love, but I 
should be unworthy of it, if I wished you to live 
here in an unhappy situation, which must be, if you 



96 ESTHER DEBEEDT. 

was unknown and unregarded. No, indeed, I have 
not such a wish. My judgment is convinced of the 
propriety of your opinion on this important affair ; 
and my heart echoes back every sentiment of yours. 
I said I would dismiss uneasy thoughts from my 
breast, but indeed it is impossible. I cannot help 
it while you are at such a distance, and no probabi- 
lity of my seeing you again soon. I assure you, your 
letter has cast an uncommon gloom on my spirits — 
it seems to intimate I let fall some unguarded expres- 
sion which has given you pain, as if I did not most 
ardently wish your return. If I have, I need your 
pardon. I feel unhappy at the thought of giving 
you any. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

August 15th, 17GG. 

Don't blame me for talking with what you call 
philosophical indifference. Indeed it does not arise 
from any such cold, formal motive, but from a de- 
sire to get some benefit even from my greatest un- 
happiness — that is, being absent from you. My hope 
that this would soon terminate, is again taken away 
by Lord Dartmouth resigning. We had planned 
several schemes, and perhaps some of them might 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 97 

have been executed very cleverly, had he been made 
Secretary of State, which was promised him ; but 
he is now retired into the country, though nobody 
is yet appointed in his room, as Lord of Trade. . . 
I like Mr. Stockton exceedingly. He is certainly 
the cleverest man I have yet seen from America. 
I take an uncommon pleasure in his company, and 
for a reason which perhaps you don't think of: he 
brings you to my mind by many of his actions.* I 
can't tell particularly what it is, but there is some- 
thing in his manner which brings you to my remem- 
brance very sensibly, and makes my heart beat 
quick. ... I am at a loss to tell if Mr. Stockton 
knows of our connexion. If he is ignorant of it, 
I shall keep him so, if I can, as I suppose it is your 
desire, by not informing him before. I shall be glad 
to know your wishes on the subject. I must en- 
deavor to be more cautious, for I should certainly 
have discovered it, a few days ago, had it not been 
for my hat, which luckily hid a serious blush on his 
asking me a question or two about you. We talk 
a great deal of you. It seems to him quite natural, 

* This was Richard Stockton, of New Jersey — a signer of the 
Declaration of Independence. Mr. Reed had studied law with 
him. Mr. Stockton was at this time travelling for pleasure in 
Europe. 

9 



98 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

and I indulge the pleasure very often without being 
suspected. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

September 12tb, 1766. 

I have little reason to hide anything from my 
dear father, who seems every day to increase in his 
esteem for you, and to be more pleased with our 
connexion. He will do everything in his power, if 
Lord Dartmouth should come in again, to serve you ; 
but our prospects are a little clouded, as we cannot 
tell which will be the best way to pursue. The pre- 
sent Secretary to your Province (New Jersey), was 
formerly the Duke of Newcastle's cook, and I fancy 
put in by him, so that I fear an interest with Lord 
Dartmouth would not be of much use.* .... I 

* These posts were all sinecures, the burden of which the 
Ministry tried from time to time to lighten. In the Grenville 
Correspondence, recently (1852) published, is a letter, vol. ii., p. 
113, from Horace Walpole to George Grenville, in 1763, begging 
him not to turn out Grosvenor Bedford, who had been appointed 
by Sir Robert Walpole, Collector of the Port of Philadelphia^ and 
had been in office twenty-four years. The Minister gives him 
but little encouragement, informing him, among other reasons for 
abating these sinecures, that while the revenue from customs 
from all North America was from £1000 to £2000, the expenses 
of collection were between £7000 and £8000. 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 99 

suppose you must have heard of the honor the 
Lower Counties of Delaware have done my father, 
of a piece of plate. He has the satisfaction of hav- 
ing deserved it. They have made him their agent 
to deliver an address of thanks to his Majesty. I 
am afraid, if it is continued, it is very inconsiderable, 
and would be an Agency hardly worthy of you. 
Pray, had they ever an agent before ? The Assem- 
bly of Boston continue to send their business to my 
papa ; but the Governor's party still keep in Mr. 
Jackson. 

MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

September 13th, 1766. 

I wish I could tell you that there appears any 
probability of anything arising from agencies, or 
indeed anything else that flatters my hopes of soon 
returning to you ; but everything in this country 
has fallen into the old channel, and unless some- 
thing occurs more than I can foresee at present, I 
question whether anything is to be expected from 
this quarter. . . . Money is very scarce, and peo- 
ple were much mistaken who supposed that the 
Repeal of the Stamp Act would produce an imme- 
diate alteration in this respect. 



100 ESTHER DE BERDT. 



MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

26th September, 176G. 

I have waited, my dear sir, till almost the last 
day of the ship's staying, in hopes of receiving a 
letter from you before I wrote, but this pleasure I 
am denied. It is almost six weeks since I have had 
a line from you, and the time seems very long in- 
deed Cannot you and Sayre contrive some 

scheme which could be executed either here or in 
America ? Do not forget your hopes and wishes in 
respect to my father, but, I believe I have men- 
tioned this to you before. If Lord Dartmouth had 
been made Secretary of State, my papa intended 
to have spoke for you to have been his Law-Secre- 
tary, or if that was filled up by a general Law-Secre- 
tary, to all the three departments, to be his Under 
one. It would, I believe, be no way unsuitable to 
your profession, for one Mr. Garth, the agent for 
Carolina, who is a counsellor, is Lord Shelburne's 
Under-Secretary. I think it would be the very 
thing to be wished for ; but the deepest politicians 
cannot tell whether Lord Dartmouth will come in. 
Do you know if they are changed when the Secre- 
tary of State is, — but I am most apt to think they 
are not, and if that is the case, it would do very 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 101 

well. I wish I could tell you what the business is 
that belongs to the office, that you might be a better 
judge whether it would be agreeable to you. How- 
ever, at present nothing can be done." 



9* 



CHAPTER YI. 

1766-1767. 

Correspondence continued — A Provincial Lawyer^ s Life 
— Doctor Franklin — Boston Agency — Lord Shelhurne 
— 31r. Reed, Deputy Secretary for New Jersey — Mau- 
rice Morgan — Duke of GraftorCs " Mosaic' Admi- 
nistration. 

In the next letter, I find some details of a Pro- 
vincial lawyer's life and modes of business, in days 
of hard work and circuit riding. They are alluded 
to by Mr. Reed as an excuse for an apparent want 
of punctuality in the correspondence. 

MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

October 4th, 1766. 

You do me justice in believing I am as much dis- 
appointed in losing an opportunity of writing as you 
are in not hearing from me by the Philadelphia ves- 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 103 

sels, but I ought before now to have told you my 
situation in this respect. . . . The practice of the 
law is extremely fatiguing in this country. There 
are sixteen courts which I am obliged to attend from 
home, oftentimes near a whole week at each, besides 
attending the assizes once a year through the whole 
province, which contains thirteen counties. I was 
upon this last when Friend arrived, and the ships 
you mention had sailed without my knowledge. . . 
Thank you for your letter of May. I love you for 
your spirit in resolving against a life of dependence. 
I could not submit to it. The thought of depen- 
dence would dash my pride, and make my life 
miserable. 



MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

Nov. 7, 1766. 

Mamma desires her affectionate regards to you, 
and is much obliged to you for your kind remem- 
brance of her. Instead of growing cool, I do think 
your friends in Artillery Court love you more than 
ever. ... I find the way to have letters by the 
packet from you is to write by them myself, as by 
that you know when they come in, and it just gives 
you time to write a few lines back. 



104 ESTHEK DE BERDT. 



MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

15th Nov., 1766. 

Your letter was given to me at the bar, while I 
was pleading an important cause. It was a cause 
of great importance and expectation, and our success 
was equal to our most sanguine hopes. I am not 
yet without hopes that something may arise from 
Massachusetts to favor our wishes. 

At the moment he was thus hopefully and cheer- 
ingly writing, she towards whom these hopes were 
directed, was agonized by a scene of domestic sor- 
row, — the illness of her aged father, which she thus 
describes. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

London, Nov. 15, 1766. 

My dear father is ill, and has been so about a 
week. We at first thought it no more than a slight 
cold and fever. It now intermits, and he takes the 
bark every two hours. His physicians fear it is a 
slight apoplexy, or would at least turn to one if not 
timely prevented. To-morrow is the critical day. 
If they can keep the fit off, they will think him out 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 105 

of danger. Oh ! mj dear friend, you can hardly 
think our situation. . . He is extremely well the day 
the disorder is off, but the consequence it is hard to 
determine. I would not have surprised you with 
such bad news ; only I thought if he should not get 
better, it would still be a greater surprise, and I 
have a thousand fears on your account. You tell 
me the fatigue of business impairs your constitu- 
tion. ... I must hope before this you are in some 
measure recovered, or it would sink me down indeed. 
"Were you but near me, I could support better this 
double, this heavy affliction. I now indeed feel the 
pains of absence from one I tenderly love, more, I 
think, than ever. 

My dear mamma is amazingly well considering. 
I am much afraid it will affect her with great force 
afterwards. We are all obliged to appear cheerful 
to keep up my father's spirits, as a failure of his 
spirits would be of the worst consequence. I hardly 
dare look forward, such a melancholy scene of dis- 
appointment presents itself. . . . We who are the 
nearest connected with my father will the most 
sensibly feel his loss. Adieu, my friend, you must 
be my father as well as friend. You are indeed al- 
ready mine by the most endearing ties. 

Ever faithfully yours, 
E. D. B. 



106 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

P. S. Since I wrote this morning the doctors 
have been here, and think my father better, and are 
in great hopes of but a slight fit to-morrow. I left 
my letter open till late at night, on purpose to give 
the doctors' opinions. I am afraid of hoping too 
much. The last part of a letter he wrote before he 
was taken ill was to you, and the first he is able to 
(dictate) is to you, which mamma is now writing. 
You see how much you engage the attention of 
every part of our family. We wish my father's 
indisposition may be kept a secret. Once more, 
with rather a more cheerful heart, I bid you adieu. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

December 12, 1766. 

I have the pleasure to inform you that my dear 
father continues pretty well, though I think he has 
hardly recovered his usual strength and spirits. . . 
You judge exceedingly right when you congratulate 
me on having friends that give me few anxieties. 
Indeed I have none but what arise from the over- 
flowings of affection. Oh ! my dear friend, was you 
but here to participate my pleasures, how much 
would it increase them. 



ESTHER DE BERDT, 107 

In another part of this letter occurs the only 
allusion — and this in not the most friendly spirit — 
to Dr. Franklin, that I find in the correspondence. 
I must not be understood as expressing any opinion 
of its justice, but simply to cite it as an item of 
familiar intelligence. 

My papa has a good many letters to write by 
the packet, and as he cannot transact business as 
quickly as he used to do, you must excuse a letter 
from him now. He bids me tell you his opinion of 
Dr. Franklin, — that he stood entirely neuter till 
he saw which way the cause would be carried, 
and then broke out fiercely on the side of Ame- 
rica. 

MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

14th January, 1767. 

There is little doubt of Mr. Jackson's being 
removed from the Boston Agency. The Assembly 
voted it, 81 against 6, as I suppose you must by 
this time have heard. The Governor prorogued 
them to some day this week, and what further is 
done we have no account Banish, my dear- 
est love, every thought of my settling in America. 
.... I write to your father by this opportunity, 



108 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

and cannot yet give up the hope of returning this 
year. Say but the word, my charmer, and I shall 
be with you. \ 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

30th January, 1767. 

Boston still keeps me in suspense: this month 
may perhaps bring the news of a determination on 
one side or the other, and an important one it will 
be to our happiness. It appears to me very uncer- 
tain which way it will be decided. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

3d February, 1767. 

Lord Shelburne is very complaisant to my father, 
and treats him with much respect.* He is very 
willing to make use of his interest with him for 
you, but we don't know what method to take, and 

* Lord Shelburne was then Secretary of State. On the whole, 
he seems^ to have been the steadiest friend America had, in all 
these trials. He had taken office in Lord Chatham's administra- 
tion. By the by, I am not aware that it has been observed that 
Burke's image of the Mosaic Cabinet is not original. Lord Ches- 
terfield, writing to his son on the 1st June, 1767, says, " I am apt 
to think that this will be a Mosaic ministry, made up de pieces 
rapportees from different connexions." 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 109 

while you are so far off, it is impossible, I fear, for 
you to direct us. While I have no expectation of 
your being able to inform me, yet there is a plea- 
sure in the smallest hopes of our once more meeting 
again ; but to you, I own the difficulties that are in 
the way make me have many an anxious hour. The 
wishes of my heart are no secret from you. 



MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

February 19th, 17G7. 

I was almost sorry you were in such high spirits 
about the Boston Agency, as I confess I have not 
such raised expectations, and yet I do not give up 
all hopes. I endeavored all I could to persuade 
my father to write you, when you heard he was 
made Agent, to come as soon as you could con- 
veniently, but I could not prevail with him 

In about a month, we may expect to hear which 
way the House of Assembly determines, and though 
I attempt to check my expectations and forbid 
them rising too high for fear of a disappointment, 
yet they will, and I cannot conceal the happiness I 
have in the prospects These hopes and expecta- 
tions I cannot hide from you, as I know they give 

you pleasure I have undertaken a new em- 

10 



110 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

plojment ; perhaps you will not guess what it is. 
It is no less than (being) my father's clerk. I tell 
him I believe I must not marry, as he will hardly 
know what to do without me. My mother says I 
must ask the opinion of counsel. 

P. S. Since I wrote the above, I have had the 
happiness of receiving yours by the Packet (14th 
January). When you tell me, if I will but speak 
the word, you'll immediately come to me, I am 
almost tempted to say it, and forget prudence ; but, 
however, we must wait a little longer, and not let 
patience be vanquished. 

MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

February 20th, 17G7. 

The Assembly of Boston are now sitting, and 
we expect they will fix their Agent before they 
break up. Mr. Gary* writes Sayre, that they are 
determined their public business shall go through 
no other hands than Mr. De Berdt's. 

* Richard Gary, of Charlestown, Massachusetts, an intimate 
friend of Mr. Reed and the De Berdts. 



ESTHER DE BERDT. Ill 



MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

February 28th, 1767. 

Indeed, I not only miss the pleasure of your 
company, but the advantage I once received from 
it, and I often find the want of your advice and in- 
struction, but I hope to enjoy these pleasures again ; 
and my heart must be cast in a different mould than 
it is at present, if I don't prize it as my greatest 
happiness. 

. Let me here pause for a moment and say, that 
this is not the only allusion, in the correspondence, 
— though the only one that I am able to extract — to 
the guidance, or, in her own words, the ''instruction," 
which, in their days of personal association, Mr. 
Reed had given to his young and gentle mistress. 
His own education had been very complete. He 
was a scholar from early training, and a student in 
habit. The Academical Institutions of the Colonies 
had always aims of high scholarship ; and it is well 
known, that when the political disturbances be- 
tween the two countries began, no little admiration 
was attracted by the scholarlike and gentlemanly 
tone of the papers which came from the pens of 



112 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

our backwood rhetoricians. There were not only 
"forest-born Demosthenes," but many whose writ- 
ten eloquence was distinguished. Mr. Reed be- 
longed to this class of intellectually graceful and 
accomplished men. His writings at a later day 
abundantly show this ; and one may easily imagine, 
even if the acknowledgment had not thus been 
made, the pride with which he guided the reading 
(perhaps it hardly deserves the grave name of study), 
of the young girl whose destiny he hoped to be 
his, and who, by and by and for ever, was to be his 
intelligent companion. Many a man's heart has 
been won by sympathies of this kind, — the sympa- 
thies of study and of thought. No one knew it 
better than the master of poetry, who in his reali- 
zation of perfect feminine character, speaks of 
her as 

" An unlessoned girl, unschooled, unpractised ; 
Happy in this, that she is not yet so old 
But she may learn; and happier than this. 
She is not bred so dull but she may learn; 
Happiest in all, in that her gentle spirit 
Commits itself to yours to be directed, 
As to her lord, her sovereign, her king." 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 113 



MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

March 14th, 1767. 

It is with pleasure proportionate to the sincerity 
and warmth of my esteem, that I tell you my dear 
father's intentions are no longer a secret, and he 
does really propose sending for you as soon as he is 
appointed Agent, but can do nothing towards recom- 
mending you at Boston till he is satisfied of the 
salary they intend him. 

MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

April 5th, 1767. 

The determinations of the people of Boston have 
kept me all this winter and spring in the most cruel 
suspense, and though I observe a further proof of 
their confidence in your father, I do not find that 
they have yet considered him other than as a special 
Agent. They were not broke up at the last accounts, 
so that I still hope to have some agreeable tidings. 
How hard it is, that the happiness of two lovers 
should depend on the slow debates and wary counsels 
of politicians. 

The next letters from England, whilst they in- 
10* 



114 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

formed Mr. Reed that his friends had secured for 
him, probably through Lord Shelburne's good 
oflfices, a Deputy Provincial Secretaryship (for New 
Jersey), contained gloomy intimations of commer- 
cial embarrassments.* "If you were here," Miss 
De Berdt writes, on the 11th April (1767), "you 
might be a judge how much we are distressed for 
want of remittances — much worse than in the time 
of the Stamp Act, because then nobody could ex- 
pect anything ; — however, we must hope for better 
times. My father is in great anxiety and distress 
on account of remittances. Pray use your influence 
with Sayre to press our friends Avith you, to send 
home more money." 

MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

24tli April, 17G7. 

The Assembly of Massachusetts have determined 
nothing, nor do I at present see any appearance of 

* The Secretary for New Jersey was Maurice Morgan, ap- 
pointed in 1766 or 1767. Mr. Morgan was the protege of Lord 
Shelburne, and was afterwards, I presume on Lord Shelburne be- 
coming Prime Minister, in 1782, an Under Secretary of State. He 
was Secretary of Legation to the Mission to negotiate the Treaty 
of 1783. He died, at an advanced age, in 1802. 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 115 

it. AVhether they design to content themselves with 
your father as a Special Agent, or whether the 
Governor's party is too strong for any favorable 
determination, I do not know. They were pro- 
rogued to the middle of this month, since which I 
have not heard a syllable from that quarter. . . . 
How untoward is our fate, that the few talents Pro- 
vidence has conferred on me, should in this country 
insure me a handsome and ample independence, but 
leave me destitute in that country where nothing 
else is wanting to complete my felicity ! My busi- 
ness now produces me at the rate of XIOOO per 
annum, and is increasing beyond my ability to go 
through it, though my tw^o brothers, and a young 
gentleman who is serving a clerkship with me, assist 
me. But alas, it is local, and contributes very 
little to the gratifying my prevailing wishes. . . . 
My family is decreasing, contrary to the usual cus- 
tom of families, and I hope in a little time to get 
my brothers into business, when I shall only have 
my father and sister to take care of. Thus, my 
dearest love, I open to you the state of my affairs 
with a freedom which your partiality to me only 
could authorize; nor is there one discouraging cir- 
cumstance in it which I should not think myself 



116 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

bound in honor to communicate to you before you 
favored me with your hand. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

8th May, 1767. 

I begin to give up all thoughts of hearing good 
news from Boston, and I have a thousand fears that 
their disputes with their Governor will last so long 
as to prevent their transacting the business which 
is so important to us. ... I leave it to mamma to 
tell you whether you have had any rivals, and I give 
her leave to tell you, none have displaced my Ame- 
rican guest, nor, I believe, ever will, till he wishes to 
take his leave, and is tired of his place in my heart. 

MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

9th June, 1767. 

Our friend Sayre is about leaving Philadelphia, 
on his return to Boston, and thence to England. 
How happy, my dear Hetty, should I be, if affairs 
had so turned out that I could accompany him, but 
I now have given over every expectation of that 
kind for the present, and endeavor to resign my- 
self to my fate in the best manner I can. ... I 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 117 

am sorry to observe, from the published accounts, 
that Governor Bernard stands so well at home.* 
His contests with the Assembly have, I believe, 
solely prevented the appointment of your father as 
Agent, and it is through a piece of his mismanage- 
ment, or rather busy, meddling disposition, while he 
was Governor of New Jersey, that I met with any 
difficulty in the Secretaryship. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

13th June, 17G7. 

There is a gentleman now here, wdio I believe is 
soon going home to Boston ; his name is Barratt, 
who has a great esteem for our family, and I dare 
say would do anything to show it friendship. If 
you go to Boston, it would be of service to you to 
get acquainted with him, as I believe his family and 
connexions are of weight in the Province. They 
are all of the Governor's party, and therefore it 
might be of more use to secure his friendship. I 
am not yet determined whether to tell him of our 
connexion myself before he returns. You will not 
be surprised at my disclosing this secret when I tell 

* Letters of approval from Government had just been pubUslied 
in the American papers. 



118 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

you I have already been under the necessity of ac- 
quainting him that I am engaged. However, I 
don't know whether I can trust him, for fear his 
party spirit should get the better of his friendship. 
. . . My heart aches lest all these things should 
more entangle you, and embarrass your return. 
Forgive the fears of my anxious bosom — to you I 
communicate them without reserve. 



CHAPTER VII. 

1768-1769. 

Mr. De Berdt Agent for Massachusetts — Mr. ReecVs 
Letters — Lord Chesterfield — Say re's Pamphlet — Mr. 
Reed's visit to Boston — Death of his Father. 

I FEAR that even familiar readers will be wearied, 
if I continue, in detail, my extracts from this lover 
correspondence, which lasted for nearly three years 
longer, and contained the same uniformity of hopes 
and plans and disappointments, — the prospect in- 
deed darkening as time rolled on and new political 
disturbances and commercial difficulties added to 
the perplexity. I therefore hasten rapidly on, re- 
ferring to comparatively few of the letters of the 
succeeding years, and stating, merely by way of his- 
torical explanation, that though Mr. De Berdt was 
at last made permanent Agent for Massachusetts, 
the salary was very inadequate, and the appoint- 
ment was rejected by Governor Bernard and his 



120 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

loyal Council. In what spirit Mr. Reed received 
this disappointment is apparent from the following 
extract. 

MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

4tli August, 17G7, 

Sayre will tell you how the cursed feuds of the 
Boston Assembly have destroyed all my hopes of 
returning to you this spring. I have often lamented 
that our happiness depended on the unsteady flame 
of politics, but never felt the disappointment and 
chagrin arising from it more keenly than I did this 
morning, when I received Sayre's letter, informing 
me that the Governor and Council had not con- 
firmed your father's appointment. 

And again a month later : 

I fear, from the present appearances, there is 
less probability of the Boston Agency than there 
was some months ago. The flame of opposition be- 
gins to kindle at Boston on account of the New 
York afi'airs; — to what heights it may blaze, or 
when be extinguished, we must leave to time to 
determine.* 

* The Revenue Bill of 1767, which kindled the flame of re- 
volt more bri<?htly than the Stamp Act ever had done. Like the 



ESTHER DB BERDT. 121 

One of these letters was carried to England by 
Mr. Sayre, and on the 21st October, I find in a 
letter from the elder Mr. De Berdt, the following 
meagre allusion — all however that has survived — of 
his intercourse with the Ministry, then on the verge 
of a great American blunder, and a more practical 
oppression than had yet been attempted. . . . "I 
carried," says the letter, ''Mr. Sayre to my Lord 
Shelburne, on his arrival, where we saw Mr. Mor- 
gan The Ministry give us the strongest as- 
surance that they will never injure the liberties of 
America, whatever mistakes they may be led into 
by designing people. Lord Shelburne intends to 
have me with him in a few days to make some in- 
quiry, &c., into your affairs, the result of which I shall 
venture to communicate to you, who are too prudent 
to make private conversation public."* 

Stamp Act, it passed Parliament almost without discussion. Lord 
Shelburne, always true to Colonial rights, objected to it, at least 
in correspondence; but his influence was of no moment. Town- 
shend, the contriver of this new fatality, died in September, 17G7, 
and Lord North became Chancellor of the Exchequer; and, what 
was much worse, Lord Hillsborough, Secretary of State for 
American affairs. The correspondence is strangely silent as to 
this new Stamp Act. 

* In the Massachusetts State Papers, p. 102, are some details as 
11 



122 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

With this letter, went one from Miss De Berdt, 
which I cannot refrain from quoting at length, as a 
specimen of delicate and affectionate writing — 
such as, in its truth and simple eloquence, must 
have made her lover's heart beat proudly as well as 
gratefully. 

MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

Enfield, October 22d, 17G7. 

I received a double pleasure from my dear friend's 
letter, by our good friend Sayre, who arrived about 
a week ago. He makes us very happy by his com- 

to Lord Shelburne's kind intentions. The General Court of Mas- 
sachusetts had voted thanks, on the Stamp Act repeal, to a number 
of opposition Peers and Commoners. Among the former were 
several who are not generally thought of as America's friends. 
I especially refer to Lord Chesterfield, then on the verge of his 
long and brilliant life, wha had voted cordially for the Repeal of 
the Stamp Act (Letters, vol. iv.pp. 418, 420). Mr. De Berdt, writ- 
ing to Boston on the 19th September, 1766, says, " Since my last to 
you, I have received several letters from your friends, in answer to 
your vote of thanks (which I enclose) ; and the universal appro- 
bation it has met with, proves it a very well-judged measure ; and 
Lord Chesterfield, and old Speaker Onslow, whose hearts were 
warm in your cause, were particularly pleased." (Mass. Papers, 
p. 102.) 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 123 

pany, especially when our absent friends are the 
subject of his conversation, as he can inform us of 
many particulars, which, though trifling in them- 
selves, are far from being so when they concern 
those we love. The same day also brought yours 
by the Packet ; and indeed I could not help feeling 
very happy, to find that you were relieved from the 
anxiety and fears arising from my seeming long 
silence. These are pains we must be subject to, 
while absent from each other. However, I hope 
they will one day all be forgot in the pleasure of 
meeting ; and, though long delayed, nothing shall 
tempt me to give up the pleasing expectation. Three 
years are now past, since I was made happy by 
your company here, and though I am surrounded by 
my friends, yet I own to you, there is a heaviness 
about my heart that I cannot get rid of, when I re- 
collect how much happier I have spent this day of 
the year ;* and now I receive no small pleasure in 
thinking that perhaps while I am writing, your 
thoughts are with me, and paying a visit, though but 
in imagination. However, any way, I bid you wel- 
come, and please myself with the fond hope that 
before another year passes, I shall have it in my 

* 22d October— her birthday, N. S., 0. S. 11th. 



124 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

power to realize the happiness of bidding you wel- 
come, and in a greater degree add to jour comfort 
and ease than I have ever had it in my power to do, 
and this shall be the delightful employment of my 
future life. . . . Indeed, it has long been my study 
to improve and cultivate those qualities your par- 
tiality imagines I possess. But in whatever you are 
disappointed, this you will ever find true, that my 
heart is fixed in its choice of the object of its affec- 
tion and esteem, and never had a latent wish to 
change. 

I really believe it is unnecessary for me to say 
you have nothing to fear from any rivals, who, 
though in some circumstances suitable, are very far 
from having the least share of my love, nor is there 
any foundation for your being apprehensive that I 
shall ever give encouragement to hopes which I never 
intend to gratify. My heart has always been the 
dictator of my hand and tongue, and I have often 
constrained myself to tell more of the truth than 
perhaps was necessary, that I might refuse with the 
least pain those requests. I find our connexion is 
no longer a secret among our friends in America. 
We have heard of it from several people in New 
York. I am at a loss to know how they came by 
their intelligence ; but if it is of no disservice to you. 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 125 

I am far from being concerned about it. Our ac- 
quaintance think of nobody but Mr. Sayre, but I 
suppose when they come to see that does not take 
place, they may recollect yow again. Oh ! my dear 
friend, how long will it be before I can let them know 
whom I have distinguished as the companion of my 
future life, and give you the last and dearest proof 
of the sincerity and constancy of my affection ? 
But this is hid in the dark womb of futurity, and it 
is for us to wait in patience. This liberty of com- 
municating our thoughts is yet left us ; and there is 
also a pleasure, known only to those whose friend- 
ship is equally sincere and delicate, when we are 
sure we are interested in each other's wishes and 
prayers, for I can truly say : 

" Whene'er I asked for blessings on your head, 
Nothing was cold or formal that I said 5 
My warmest vows to Heaven were made for thee, 
And love still mingled with my piety." 

I am persuaded you do not forget me, in your 
most serious and dispassionate moments, for I should 
not be happy if I did not think your judgment and 
reason were in my favor. 

Our good friend Sayre gives us but indifferent 
accounts of the present state of the Boston people, 
11* 



126 ESTHER D E B E R D T. 

but he says lie thinks the next session will be more 
favorable to our wishes ; and perhaps, by that time, 
every other circumstance may be settled in a man- 
ner that will facilitate your return. I hope your 
next will tell me the success of the cause you men- 
tion, as I shall be anxious to know.* 

Mr. Sayre is exceedingly well, and gives us great 
encouragement to hope that our previous difficulties 
will soon be at an end ; and I think everything has 
a better appearance than some time ago. We are 
vastly happy in our connexion with him, and he 
seems, and I hope is so with us. Indeed, I do not 
know any other person that could have been so per- 
fectly agreeable. 

Mamma leaves it with me to thank you by this 
opportunity for your last letter, and to present you 
with her sincere love. Adieu, my very dear friend, 
and never doubt the sincerity or affection of 

Yours, 

E. De Berdt. 

With this letter, which no one, I am sure, will 
find fault with me for quoting at length, I close the 
correspondence of 1767. 

* Every student will recall the younger Pliny's beautiful cha- 
racter of his wife Calpurnia (Ep. ix. 19), who watched his 
lawyer cares, and shared his lawyer triumphs. 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 127 

The next year (1768) dawned gloomily. Though 
the correspondence is more than usually silent on 
public affairs, yet it is easy to see that the perplexity 
out of doors and the growing discontents between 
the two countries were exercising a dark and de- 
pressing influence on those whose personal interests 
were so deeply involved. The lull between the 
Stamp Act and Mr. Townshend's Revenue Bill was 
very brief and precarious. The financial scheme 
of 1767, such as it was, with its taxes on teas and 
paints and glass, and other articles of daily use, 
was the rash project of a brilliant and uncertain 
genius. It shot an explosive brand across the At- 
lantic ; for then burst forth the flame in America 
which never burned out, till every vestige of metro- 
politan authority was destroyed. The progress of 
discontent, remonstrance, and resistance, from this 
time till 1775, when the sword was drawn, was fear- 
fully rapid. In a letter from Miss De Berdt, of 9th 
January, 1768, she speaks of " the shocking change 
in the Ministry ;"* and well might she so describe 

* On the same day (9th January, 1768), that Miss De Berdt 
wrote thus emphatically to her lover, Dr. Franklin wrote more 
cautiously to his son, the Governor. " Mr. Conway resigns, and 
Lord Weymouth takes his place. Lord Gower is made President 
of the Council, in the room of Lord Northington. Lord Shel- 



128 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

it. It was the change that occurred on Charles 
Townshend's death, in September, 1767 — -just at the 
time when he had done his work of thoughtless mis- 
chief — and Lord North was made Chancellor of the 
Exchequer, and, soon after. Lord Hillsborough 
American Secretary. It was the first form of the 
Ministry known afterwards as the Duke of Grafton's 
Administration, whose misfortune it was " to tease 
America' into rebellion,* and to throw away an 
empire. The student who desires to study the 
record of paltry policy, may, in the Parliamentary 
history of these times, have it to his heart's content. 
This is not the place to trace it. 

Whenever in her letters. Miss De Berdt refers 
either to political matters or to business, I am much 
struck v/ith the precision and distinctness of her 
mode of writing. " There is a storm," she writes 
in August (1768), " gathering, which will break over 

burne is stripped of the American business, which is given to 
Lord Hillsborough, as Secretary of State for America, — a new dis- 
tinct department. Lord Sandwich, it is said, comes into the Post 
Office in his place. Several of the Bedford party are now to 
come in. How these changes may affect us, a little time will 
show." — vii. Sparks' Franklin, 37G. 

* This was Colonel Barre's expressive phrase, in a debate of 
Nov. 8th, 1768.— Cavendish Debates, p. 44. 



ESTHER DEBERDT. 129 

England as well as America, and what will be the 
consequence it is impossible to say." 

On the 20th of May she writes, " As^to land af- 
fairs, Sayre will inform you by what means they 
are at a stand. I am anxious to know whether you 
meet with success with those you are concerned in. 
Everything was done here which could be, and I 
think better than if our friend Sayre had gone into 
Scotland. He has been very busy in writing his 
political piece, and is so now in sending them to the 
most considerable of the nobility and House of 
Commons, by the desire of his patron, General Ogle- 
thorpe, who has a very high opinion of Sayre's un- 
derstanding and genius. I am so really his friend 
that I begin to fear the effect this applause may 
have on his mind, but perhaps the Critical Reviewers 
will prevent the bad consequence, as they ever op- 
pose books on that side of the question. I fancy 
the author will be guessed by those two letters of 
my dear father." 

This casual reference, in a young lady's letter, 
reproduced at the end of eighty years, enables me 
to identify this pamphlet. A copy is now before 
me, found in the Philadelphia Library. It bears 
the title of " The Englishman Deceived, a Political 
Piece, wherein some very important Secrets of 



130 ESTHER DE BJERDT. 

State are briefly recited, and offered to the conside- 
ration of the Public, 1768."* There is in it no- 
thing of greater interest than the two letters from 
Mr. De Berdt, which his daughter mentions, one 
dated November 1765, and the other, January, 1768. 
These are very earnest and decorous productions, 
in every way creditable to the old gentleman's 
heart and intelligence. In other respects, Sayre's 
pamphlet is of little value. 

The following letter, in the middle of 1768, is per- 
haps the most gloomy in the whole correspondence, 
and seems to be in answer to one of an equally 
desponding tone from America. It is the only one 
that even hints at separation, and that but for an 
instant. 



MISS DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

London, July 4th, 17GS. 

I received my dearest friend's letter, by Storey, a 
few days ago. It speaks of a mind crowded with 

* The Critical Review, for June, 17G8, thus disposes of Sayre's 
pamphlet: " Not a single secret from beginning to end : the whole 
being the production of some furious anti- Anglican, and stitched 
up in the form of a pamphlet, from the most vulgar hackneyed 
materials.' 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 131 

anxieties. This would give me pain, arising from 
any quarter, but especially to find it proceeds from 
our afi'airs on this side of the water. It is easy to 
reconcile the contradictions in Sayre's and my letters 
when I tell you that the state of our affairs was by 
no means an agreeable one, and his not being used 
to it made it appear much worse to him, they were 
certainly better when I wrote a few months before. 
I was afraid the power of attorney and letter would 
frighten you, and I would have told you in my letter 
how the case stood, but I wrote before I knew of the 
transaction, and then it was too late for the vessel ; 
but I hope long before this your mind has been made 
easy, as our after-letters were not of the same kind. 
How hard it is, that my dearest friend, whose bosom 
I most wish to inspire with joy and pleasure, should 
thus be subject to uneasiness, and that my oppor- 
tunities of giving him pain are many, while those 
to increase his happiness are few and confined ; but 
to think of him with the most ardent affection, to 
make him the subject of many hours' conversation, 
and to unbend my mind in the safe confidence of 
mutual love — if these can afford him the least plea- 
sure, they are, and always shall be, devoted to him ; 
for, believe me, since the moment we parted, my 



132 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

heart has never had one thought of giving itself to 
another, or of receiving any but yours. 

But if the obstacles to our happiness do appear 
insurmountable to you, my will shall be yours, and 
we must leave the hand of time to erase the traces 
of our mutual friendship ; but, oh ! my dear friend, 
how does my heart recoil, and feel a thousand pain- 
ful sensations strike on itself at the first mention of 
disunion, when our hearts seem to have been cast 
into kindred moulds, and have been so long endea- 
voring to become more like each other. No ; it 
must be otherwise. Providence will surely smile 
on us, and give us the opportunity of joining our 
hands, since it has united our hearts. 

Boston, indeed, is discouraging ; but I can't see 
what diiference it can make whether the Governor 
joins in the appointment, since the Assembly pay 
the three hundred a year, and will certainly con- 
tinue it while they employ my father, which will 
most probably be as long as he lives. It appears 
to be almost as sure as if the Governor and Council 
joined in it. If it is not fixed this session, I think 
it will be better for you to take it as it is, and 
come over next spring, if you can settle your affairs 
in America. If we can't get my dear father to 
approve of this scheme, which to his prudence and 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 133 

experience may seem a little romantic, you must 
write that some land affairs would make such a step 
not so much so as it at first appears, and when you 
are here, something or other will surely make it 
easy for you to stay, and except you are determined 
to remain in America till everything is quite right, 
which is not, I fear, very likely for some years, I 
don't see what advantage can arise from your stay- 
ing six or even twelve months longer, or when you 
could come with more likelihood of success. I 
mean after you have settled the Secretaryship, and 
made those friends easy whom you leave behind, 
that there may be no reason on that account for 
your return. If you could make the New Jersey 
Agency certain, and bring money enough with you 
to answer your expenses the year in the Temple, 
which cannot be very great, unattended with the 
care of a family, which would be highly imprudent 
the first year, I think there can be no reasonable 
objection but what will have the same or even more 
force a year or two hence, owing to the uncertainty 
of my dear father's life, which, I think, makes it 
more necessary you should determine to come as 
soon in the spring as possible. Going to Boston will 
be necessary on all accounts. 

How happy should I feel at thus adjusting a 
12 



134 ESTHER DE B E R D T. 

plan for return, were it unattended with those fears 
which will intrude. An advocate within my breast, 
as well as your repeated assurances, convinces me 
that you will make some sacrifice of applause and 
eclat in this world to her whose faithfulness and 
affection in some sort demand it. Had I more 
fortune and accomplishments of mind or beauty, I 
should, with the highest joy, give them all to you, 
my dearest friend, and make them subservient 
to that which lies so near my heart, — your happi- 
ness ; but I need not wish to be any other, since 
as I am, your friendship views me in the light I 
most desire. 

Believe me as much as ever, 

Yours, 
E. De Berdt. 

There was no mistakino- the tenor of a letter 
like this, in which certainly " love mingled largely 
with her piety," especially in that part in which 
Miss De Berdt suggests a mode of obviating her 
father's scruples as to Mr. Reed's return, and which 
stricter moralists than lovers usually are, might 
find it difficult to justify. The appeal had its in- 
tended effect, and no sooner was the letter received, 
than Mr. Reed determined, at all sacrifices, forget- 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 135 

ting Agencies and Secretaryships, and every plan 
for making his career easy and independent, to 
return to England the coming summer. 

As the time approached, difficulties increased. 
On one side of the Atlantic, popular discontent 
was showing itself in every form of bold resistance, 
— while on the other, the infatuation of the minis- 
terial majority seemed to know no bounds. America 
and Americans were treated as beneath the level 
of ordinary contempt. "To be an American or a 
friend of America," Miss De Berdt writes in Janu- 
ary, 1769, "is a great disadvantage:" and a month 
later, she says, "in this melancholy situation of 
things, it is impossible for any one to stem the tide 
against America." Parliament was engaged not 
merely in reiterating assertions of its authority to 
do with the Colonies just what it pleased, but was 
taking from their hiding-places and furbishing up 
for use, ancient penal statutes, by means of which 
Americans were to be transported first and tried 
afterwards. Every element of trouble and per- 
plexity seemed thus to be at work to obstruct the 
path of those whose nearest and dearest interests 
were identified with peace. Still, though to be an 
American's friend was a reproach, this English girl 
clung to her lover with fidelity which never faltered, 



136 ESTHER DE B E R D T. 

and he in return struggled manfully with the diffi- 
culties and embarrassments that stood in the way 
of their reunion. They were vexatious enough. 

In August, 1769, Mr. Reed, in pursuance of 
Miss De Berdt's wish, visited Boston, in those 
primitive days, a long horseback journey. There, 
by one party, at least, he was treated with great 
kindness and respect. No claim seems to have 
been stronger than that of Mr. De Berdt's son-in- 
law. Mr. Hancock, Mr. Gushing, Mr. Quincy, Mr. 
Gary, he seems to have been most intimate with : 
the first-named returning to the South with him. 
The intimacy with Mr. Quincy matured into most 
devoted friendship. Samuel Adams wrote to Mr. 
De Berdt, " I received your favor by Mr. Reed, 
whose good sense, agreeable conversation, and polite 
behavior, entitle him to very great respect and 
esteem;" and he adds, in something of prophetic 
strain, " Britain may fall sooner than she is aware, 
while her colonies, who are now struggling for 
liberty, may survive her fate, and tell the story to 
their children's children." 

The personal kindness of which he was the ob- 
ject, was, however, productive of no precise result. 
Boston was at the moment in a new ferment. Mr. 
Bollan, in London, through the agency of Alder- 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 137 

man Beckford, then fiercely in opposition, had 
procured copies of a number of Governor Bernard's 
confidential letters to Government, and sent them 
to Boston, where they were at once published, and 
produced great irritation.* I infer from the fol- 
lowing extracts from Mr. Reed's letters, that great 
merit was claimed for Mr. Bollan's services and 
success in the timely transmission of these papers. 
It would seem, too, as if Mr. De Berdt's influence 
among the Boston patriots was rather on the wane^ 
— a very natural result, by the by, at his advanced 
age, and with his impaired energies. 

MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

Boston, August 7tli, 1769. 

In the short time I have been here, I have met 
with very great civilities from our friends, and am 
particularly pleased with our friend Gary, who is 
really a man of good sense, and seems to have a 
most friendly heart, especially towards Artillery 
Court. His daughter is just married. Her dis- 
position and temper I think resemble yours, 
after which I need not tell you I am pleased with 

* Hutchinson's History, pp. 221, 226. 
12* 



138 ESTHER DE BEllDT. 

her From the conversations I have been in 

here, I find, notwithstanding the large majority 
in the last Court, your father stands on ticklish 
ground. His age, his infirmities, are aggravated, 
— his fortune and circumstances misrepresented, — 
his weight of influence spoken slightly of, and in 
short every measure is taken by his enemies to have 
him laid aside.. As I know you have a deserved in- 
fluence, you must exert it, not only to have the 
most expeditious and vigilant steps pursued respect- 
ing Governor Bernard, but to give the earliest and 
most minute intelligence of his proceedings : I men- 
tion this, as the want of it has been one of the ob- 
jections to your father ; and put every wheel in 
motion, my dear creature, to obtain copies of Ber- 
nard's letters, or others that have been written re- 
specting this Province, or America in general. You 
cannot imagine what stress is laid upon it, and I 
will venture to afiirm, that upon the procuring them 
we may build with confidence. A little money would 
be well laid out for this purpose, and the Province, 
I have no doubt, would cheerfully repay it.* 

* It would seem from an entry in John Adams's Diary, that Mr. 
Reed on this visit was not accompanied, as I had supposed (Life 
of Reed, vol. i. p. 40), by the " Farmer " Dickinson, but by his 
brother. The entry in Mr. Adams's Diary is curious and charac- 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 139 

The Boston errand, ovfing to this new agitation, 
was fruitless, and disappointment ensued as to the 
New Jersey Agency, Dr. Franklin being unexpect- 
edly appointed to the latter post. Mr. Reed's de- 
termination to return to England was not, however, 
changed. All his arrangements to that end were 
made, and he was on the eve of embarking, in the 
summer of 1769, when he was summoned to the 
dying bed of his father, whence he wrote the fol- 
lowing letter — the last of the lover series with which 
the reader shall be troubled — to Miss De Berdt. 
Though it has been in print before, I cannot refrain 
from again copying it. 



MR. REED TO MISS DE BERDT. 

Amwell, Dec. 15th, 1769. 

This letter, my dearest love, is dated at the coun- 
try retirement my father chose, after his misfor- 
tunes ; and where he has spent his time since in con- 
templation and books. He has suddenly been seized 
with a dangerous distemper, that will probably in a 
few days free him from all earthly cares. I was on 

teristic of the times. The visitors, Mr. Reed and Mr. Dickinson, 
are spoken of as "cool, reservfttl, and guarded all day." 



140 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

the point of taking my passage, when the accident 
happened ; but you, who so well know and tenderly 
practise the duties of filial love, will, I am sure, 
think this a sufficient cause for my delay. I thank 
God, that amidst all the afflictions which Providence 
has laid upon him, he ever supported his character 
for integrity and honesty ; and now meets the ap- 
proaches of death with a firmness and serenity, 
which show it to be a subject he has long thought 
of, and an enemy he is prepared to meet. It is an 
event that in a few years must in the common course 
of nature have happened, and as I have the approba- 
tion of my own heart that I have neglected nothing 
in my power to support and comfort his declining 
years, so it will be my consolation that I have stayed 
to perform the last duties that can be paid him, 
and seen that nothing has been omitted to lessen 
his pains, and as far as the best skill, the kindness 
of friends, and tenderness of children avail, alle- 
viated the bitter stroke to which sooner or later all 
must submit. The loss of friends is a tax upon life 
which must be paid, and which we in our turn sub- 
ject others to. Every event of this kind only serves 
to draw the ties of affection closer, and endear those 
surviving friends in proportion to our sorrow for the 
loss of others. How much do I feel your absence, 



ESTHEK DE BERDT. 141 

my dearest love, on such a melancholy occasion ; 
that sweet participation and sympathy, which is the 
essence of friendship and love, would teach me to 
bear affliction, or at least support me under it. And 
yet, why should I wish you to partake of my sor- 
rows ? you, whose heart it will ever be my ambition 
and desire to cheer with joy and inspire with plea- 
sure, for whom I can sacrifice the company of the 
nearest friends, and tenderest connexions of nature, 
leave all these, my native country, and whatever is 
thought dearest in life, to return and give you this 
last and greatest proof of my affection. Adieu, 
my dearest love, once more. This perhaps may be 
the last letter you will receive, but I shall continue 
to write while there are opportunities, but our win- 
ters are so severe that vessels are not frequent at 
this time of year. That Providence which disposes 
all things, and to which we ought cheerfully to sub- 
mit, will, I trust, favor our wishes, and give you as 
its best and greatest blessing to your affectionate 
and devoted 

J. R.* 

* Mr. Andrew Reed, my paternal great-grandfather was in his 
day, a man of some mark in this infant community. His name 
is associated with many public Institutions; it is among the 
early contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital. 



142 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

On the day after this letter was written, the elder 
Mr. Reed died, and on the 14th of the following 
March (1770), the lover having paused long enough 
to adjust his father's affairs, embarked at Philadel- 
phia in a vessel bound to Newry, in Ireland, — his in- 
tention then being to settle in Great Britain. 



i 



CHAPTER VIII. 

1769-1770. 

Mr. Reed sails fo}' England — Commercial Difficulties 
and Death of Dennis De Berdt — Marriage and. Re- 
turn to America. 

On the 15th April, 1770, the vessel in Avhich Mr. 
Reed sailed, touched at Kinsale, whence he wrote 
a few hurried lines to announce his coming, and on 
the 21st, after stopping a short time at Newry, I 
find, from a letter to his brother-in-law, Mr. Pettit, 
he was at Dublin, prevented by a gale of wind from 
crossing the Channel. What happened there is best 
told in his own words. And here, as the days of 
distant correspondence between the lovers are now 
over, I must, for the further illustration of my subject, 
resort to Mrs. Reed's letters to her family, in the 
sequel of my tale, adding only the further remark, 
that, in these letters, I have been anew impressed 
with the clearness and grace of her epistolary style, 



144 E S T.H E R D E B E R D T. 

especially when writing on subjects of direct and 
practical interest. The two following letters from 
Mr. Reed telb their story of painful reality with 
exactness, and without affectation of fine writing. 
Little did he think when he wrote to Miss De Berdt f 
from the bedside of his father, that almost at the 
same time, she was sorroAving for a dying father 
too. 

MR. REED TO MR. PETTIT. 

Dublin, April 25th, 1770. 

Dear Sir — 

I wrote to you a few days ago a letter which 
you will receive with this ; but a very important 
event having happened, I sit down to communicate 
it ; but my mind is so agitated I scarcely know what 
I write. Think what I must feel, at looking over 
the English newspapers, to see that my dearest, wor- 
thiest, and kindest of friends, my expected, and in- 
deed, if love and kindness constituted the parent, 
my father, Mr. De Berdt, is no more. By the papers, 
he died about ten days ago. I have been disap- 
pointed in my passage to Chester, which kept me 
here a few days longer than I intended.* But I am 

* Mr. De Berdt died 18th April, 1770. 



E S T II E R D E r, E II D T. 145 

now going oft' this moment, and shall not stop, night 
or day, till I see the dear and distressed family. God 
knows what eff"ect this melancholy event will have 
on my future life, but I think it not unlikely you 
will now soon see me in America. What a happy 
circumstance it is that I have acted as I did, and 
that I have settled the accounts, which would now 
have been more difficult to have accomplished than 
ever. Adieu ; my heart is full. I can only add 
that I will write you as soon as I arrive, and that I 
am, dear Charles, 

Yours, &c., 
J. R. 

Mr. Reed hastened to London as rapidly as the 
travelling processes of eighty years ago permitted. 
There he found that death was not the only calamity 
which had befallen those he loved so well. Com- 
mercial embarrassment and ruin had visited them, 
and Mr. De Berdt's mercantile house was bankrupt 
— made bankrupt, too, by the remissness, if not dis- 
honesty, of American traders. Mr. Reed thus de- 
scribes the scene of ruin and distress in which he 
found himself. Instead of the welcome of joyous 
friends, there was desolation, and sorrow, and dis- 
appointment at the fireside that was once so happy. 
13 



146 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

MR. REED TO MR. PETTIT. 

London, May 7th, 1770. 

I came here from Ireland a few days ago ; but 
what shall I say with respect to my future views 
and prospects, which, I trust, are interesting to you ? 
I found my worthy friend gone, my dear girl almost 
worn out with sorrow and fatigue, and the whole 
family in a situation not to be described. I am 
again embarked on a sea of disappointments and 
difficulties, and seem ever destined for the school of 
affliction ; but I am wrong in sending my melancholy 
sensations across the Atlantic when I cannot have 
the benefit of your advice and assistance. I wrote to 
you from Dublin an account of Mr. De Berdt's death, 
which seems to have happened from a mere decay 
of nature, quite exhausted and worn out. He has 
given little attention to business for some time past, 
and at last went out like an expiring taper. Upon 
a review of his affairs, there appears an overplus of 
some thousands, which is scattered through America. 
Mrs. De Berdt, her son, and a friend of the family, 
are appointed executors, who have had a meeting of 
the creditors, to lay before them a state of the af- 
fairs, and convince them of the necessity there is 
that they should wait with patience for American 
remittances. As yet, all has been serene and friend- 






ESTHER DE B E 11 l;T. 147 

ly ; but you may easily judge, my dear sir, what 
must have been the feelings of the family at a step 
of this kind, and to live as it were pensioners on 
the bounty of others, for so the creditors esteem it ; 
American debts being in very low estimation here. 
Mrs. De Berdt has laid down her coach, and my 
dear girl, though I think it necessary for health 
that she should ride, yet could not be prevailed on 
to keep a horse for that purpose. 

We have had very WTong ideas of the advantages 
of American trade, and Mr. De Berdt has been pe- 
culiarly unhappy in his Philadelphia correspondents^ 
even among our own particular friends. I am now 
extremely sorry that I settled the Philadelphia ac- 
counts, for upon a review of the books, it appears 
that we have done it at a very considerable loss, and 
it will be necessary to take them up again, or the 
family be cruelly injured. I hope there is yet so 
much virtue and justice left among them as to do it, 
otherwise the consequences will be terrible indeed. . . 
It is indeed a melancholy scene, to look through the 
books of this house, which show a very handsome 
fortune acquired, and, I fear, lost again, by credulity 
on the part of Mr. De Berdt, and dishonesty on the 
part of many of our countrymen. A trust is talked 
of, which has a disagreeable sound, but in this case 
has some advantages, as Mr. Burkitt and Mr. Sayre 



148 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

will be rid of the house on which they are at present 
incumbrances, but I think you may make use of 
these circumstances to stimulate our friends to 
exert themselves to save a family whose welfare or 
ruin really depends on their generous and grateful 
efforts. 

I have not been able to fix upon anything in these 
few days. Indeed I have hardly recovered the sur- 
prise and shock which all these circumstances have 
given me. Mrs. De Berdt and her daughter have 
consented to go to America'if it appears necessary, 
but I doubt whether the former would be happy 
there. A change so material at her time of life 
must be disagreeable. 

I have been with Mr. Morgan, who continues to 
profess great friendship, though I fancy at the ex- 
piration of nine months will leave the office open to 
a higher bidder.* . . We are going to lay a memo- 
rial before Lord Hillsborough, touching the law 
brought up in the Fall Sessions. Mr. Morgan 
seems quite dependent on Ministry, and what is a 
little unhappy, his patron. Lord Shelburne, has little 
prospect of coming in again. A bill is brought into 
the House of Commons to grant the Province of 

* Not probably in money, though it was the day of jobs, but ia 
adhesion to the Ministry. 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 149 

New York an emission of paper money. How they 
have happened to gain this preference I have yet to 
learn. Yery considerable quantities of goods have 
been shipped this spring to Yirginia and Boston, so 
that our agreement for non-importation is con- 
sidered a mere bagatelle. The reception of these 
goods will in a great measure determine our fate. 
Mr. Haley, Mr. Hancock's friend, has shipped very 
largely, and says he will execute any orders sent 
him. I am well satisfied from all accounts that the 
manufacturers do not yet feel ; — the demands from 
—Russia, an increased demand from Germany, and 
what is extremely probable, some of the public 
money employed in keeping the manufacturers at 
work. This conjecture is founded on Bacon Du- 
rand's,(?) with several other merchants on the minis- 
terial side, who never were known before as Ame- 
rican merchants, shipping large quantities of goods 
to America. It is no secret here that the malt ship 
went by way of experiment, and that her owner 
was indemnified fully. All these circumstances 
have unhappily conspired to oppose the efiect of our 
resolutions, so that America has few resources but 
what she must draw from her own prudence and 
virtue, which will prevail in the end. 

Dr. Franklin is very much broken, and has been 
13* 



150 ESTIIEll DE BEllDT. 

laid up with the gout for many weeks. He appears 
extremely reserved, though I am informed that is 
his general character here. He seems to despair 
of any further redress of American grievances, and, 
indeed, I believe, has been hard pushed to preserve 
that caution and address which are necessary for 
him in the difficult characters of Agent and Crown 
Officer. The merchants here know little of our 
affairs, and care less than they know. Politics are 
quite out of their way. Indeed, at present I have 
little heart to enter into them. 

The rest of this portion of my story is easily 
told. In fact, it is comprised in the brief entry 
that now lies before me, in Mr. Reed's family 
Bible. It is in his well-known and graceful hand- 
writing. 

"Joseph and Esther Reed, married at St. 
Luke's Church, in the city of London, 22d May, 
1770." 

And, on the 8th of June, the bride writes her 
first letter to her husband's American family, in 
the form of a brief postscript to Mrs. Pettit. 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 151 

Though with a strange mixture of concern and 
pleasure, yet I would not neglect, dear madam, to 
pay the tribute of affection and respect which is 
due to a sister of my dear Mr. Reed, and who, by 
the event of last w^eek, I have a right to call mine. 
Some circumstances have occurred to damp the 
pleasure I have in giving my hand where my heart 
has long been. However, I hope that, by a con- 
stant life of endeavor to make Mr. Reed happy, 
and the warmth of affection I feel for all those 
that are dear to him, I shall in some measure repay 
his anxiety and tenderness, and I shall esteem 
myself very happy to enjoy your love and friend- 
ship. I am, with the greatest truth, 

Yours most affectionately, 

Esther Reed. 

So ended a long and anxious courtship. And 
now that I have brought my little narrative to this 
point, I am not disposed to repress the thoughts 
which a minute study of the whole correspondence, 
— more minute, of course, than the reader can pre- 
tend to, — has suggested. The review of it all has 
been to me the source of great and most rational 
enjoyment. It has been a source of pleasure in 
this, that I fancy I can detect in the training which 



152 ESTHER DE BERDT. 

these lovers of former days underwent, the deve- 
lopment of fine traits of character in after-life. 
The separation of five long years at so vast a dis- 
tance, was no easy trial. The ocean was wider 
then than now; its perils and difficulties more 
formidable. The truth is, that to marry an Ameri- 
can, eighty years ago, must have seemed more 
inappropriate, for a gentle and refined British 
maiden, than now-a-days it would be for a New 
York or Philadelphia young lady to follow the 
fortunes of a California settler, or an emigrant to 
Oregon. And the woman whose fidelity to a lover 
thus distant never wavered, triumphed through 
trials such as this day's constancy is rarely subjected 
to. But it is clear, from every word in all this 
accumulation of correspondence, that she loved 
with a faith so sincere, so strongly anchored, that 
the idea of infidelity, of a wandering thought or 
wish on his part or hers, was inconceivable. Time, 
distance, adversity, no counter-influence weakened 
their mutual love. It lasted for five years without 
a whisper of distrust or discontent. It ended in a 
marriage which was rich in every domestic blessing, 
though strangely chequered by out-of-door adver- 
sity. Its record, to my mind, is most attractive, 
and I have made poor use of it, indeed, if those 



ESTHER DE BERDT. 153 

few who kindly read what I have thus rapidly 
written, do not find some little interest in it. 

I now come to the history of ten years of mar- 
ried life, — and those, too, years of civil war and 
confusion. 



CHAPTER IX. 

1770-1771. 

Philadelphia Eighti/ years ago — Removal from New 
Jersey — Mrs. Reed's Letters to her friends in England 
— Her descri/ption of Colonial Life — Correspondence 
from America — Birth of her first child. 

It is not easy for us, Americans and Pliiladel- 
phians of this day, residents of a large and luxu- 
rious community — for such at least by contrast it 
is — to understand what America and Philadelphia 
seemed to an English stranger eighty years ago. 
The " fringe " of civilization on the Colonial sea- 
board was very narrow ; for though at this point on 
the Continent, scattered military settlements ex- 
tended to the Ohio, a hostile Indian population was 
as near as the Susquehanna to the west, and the 
Lehigh to the north. Philadelphia, with its popu- 
lation of not more than fifteen or twenty thousand, 
was but a large village, with village habits and 



ESTHER REED. 155 

modes of life. The houses did not reach farther 
than Delaware Third or Fourth Streets, with the 
Hospital Woods at what is now Eighth Street, and 
gentlemen's seats in the country this side of the 
Schuylkill. For all articles of luxury, and even 
many of necessity, the Colonies were dependent on 
the " Old Country." and the few ships which perio- 
dically and deliberately crossed the Atlantic, were 
freighted with hats and shoes, and pins and needles, 
and clothing of all kinds, that in our day it is 
strange to read of. To this primitive community 
came, from the refinements of the great Metropolis 
of the world, the young English bride. Mr. and 
Mrs. Reed, accompanied by Mrs. De Berdt, arrived 
at Philadelphia in the ship Pennsylvania Packet, 
Captain Osborne, on the 26th of October, 1770. 
Soon after, — the arrangements probably having 
been made in advance, Mr. Reed changed his resi- 
dence from Trenton to this city ; for in the first 
letters to her friends in England, Mrs. Reed speaks 
of Philadelphia as her home.* I copy a few ex- 
tracts from their letters, as the genuine record of a 

* Among the records of the Court of Common Pleas of Phila- 
delphia County, is this entry : " December Term, 1770. Upon 
motion of Nicholas Wain, Esq., Joseph Reed, Esq., is admitted 
and sworn as an Attorney of this Court." 



156 ESTHER REED. 

first impression. They are addressed to her brother, 
for whose success in life she seems to have been 
deeply solicitous, and to whom she always writes 
with clear good sense, and now matronly intelli- 
gence. The letters, it will be seen, are no longer 
love-letters. They are the letters of a happy wdfe, 
clinging with more devotion to her husband, because 
she was in a land of strangers, and, aside from him, 
felt deeply solitude and separation from her ancient 
home. No one, however, can fail being struck, in 
the progress of the correspondence, with the grow- 
ing contentment it developes with her new home, 
and how, as her children were born and grew up 
around her, she became more than reconciled to the 
place of their nativity, and, woman-like, forgot in 
the new relation of wife and mother, the associations 
of her girlhood. Long before war and bloodshed 
aroused the land, Esther De Berdt had become in 
spirit and truth an American woman. 

The reader of our day w^ill smile at the Dancing 
Assembly of ancient times, and the Burlington fox 
hunt described in Mrs. Reed's first letter. 



ESTHER REED. 157 



MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT, LONDON. 

Philadelphia, Nov. 14th, 1770. 

The more I see of tlie people here, the more I 
am convinced, a knowledge of merchants' accounts 
is absolutely necessary before anything can be done 
in business. Men in trade here are cheerful and 
gay at their tables, and acute men of business in 
their counting-houses and stores, so that without 
a perfect and accurate knowledge of accounts and 
exchange, a person would soon become ridiculous, 
and could stand no chance of carrying on busi- 
ness ; but, with a proper knowledge, I think a good 
stroke might be struck, though not in the common 
way of importing, but in the manner, Mr. Reed used 
to mention, of little things out of the common road 
that come cheap. Miss Pearson is making a for- 
tune by going to England and bringing back new 
fashions in her way. Articles for gentlemen's 
use, would answer as well ; as to the common 
articles of wear, the country will soon be over- 
stocked ; vast quantities of goods come already 
from New York and Maryland, and all the coun- 
try people are spinning coarse linen, which they 
find their account in. I believe when Mr. Reed 
14 



158 ESTHER REED. 

finds jou have applied closely, and are fit to deal 
with these sharp tradesmen, he will exert his name 
and interest to do you any essential service that 
lies in his power. He often says he would do as 
much for you as for his own brother. Everything 
on the passage was on the whole as agreeable as 
possible, but I was worn almost to a skeleton by the 
constant sickness, but America has set me up again ; 
yet, though I was so glad to see land, the first week 
or two, I was very low-spirited ; — indeed it is not 
England : — however, I can think of spending some 
time agreeably enough. Nothing can be more oblig- 
ing than our friends ; they seem to strive which can 
show most hospitality and respect. I am sure, after 
the first weeks, you would like this place very well : 
— the city does not answer my expectations ; — the 
plan, undoubtedly, is remarkably good ; but the 
houses are low, and in general, paltry, in compari- 
son of the account I had heard. Our little friend 
Powell cuts the greatest figure in houses ; his is very 
elegant, and those he builds are very pretty. We 
made our appearance on Thursday at the Assembly, 
with Mrs. Foxcroft, and my ladyship opened the 
ball, much to the satisfaction of the company, as 
something new to criticise on. The belles of the city 
were there. In general, the ladies are pretty, but no 



ESTHER REED. 159 

beauties ; they all stoop, like country girls. So 
much for this city. I have spent a fortnight at the 
city of Burlington, which is remarkable for nothing. 
Governor Franklin tells me that a person may sleep 
there for a month, without any danger of being 
disturbed. I was much diverted with what they 
called a '' hunt." The people, the horses, and dogs, 
were well matched. The first at setting out was a 
black man, on a horse whose coat stood about two 
inches from his body ; — three gentlemen attended, 
— one was the apothecary, another the Mayor, and 
the third (illegible), all on horses about as high as 
my old Fanny, and with the same porcupine appear- 
ance as the first ; — however, about noon they re- 
turned, with a fine fox, and well satisfied. 

In Ihe next two letters, along with some inci- 
dental allusions to Boston politics, are strong indi- 
cations of home-sickness, discontent with her social 
relations in this country, and anxiety to see '' dear 
England" once more. Agencies and Secretary- 
ships were still floating in the imagination of the 
young wife. 



160 ESTIIEK REED. 



MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, December 12, 1770. 

I wrote to my dear Dennis not long since by 
Captain Osborne, but opportunities occur so seldom 
at this time of the year, that I just write a few lines 
by way of Bristol, as I know how anxious you are 
to hear constantly from us, and we no less so to hear 
from you. Nothing has occurred particular since 
I wrote. I begin to grow very anxious to receive 
some intelligence from you. No ships are expected 
till spring, so that our only hope is by the packet. 
America, my dear Dennis, is a fine country, but to 
compare it to England in any respect, except the 
clear weather, is wrong, for it will not bear the 
most distant comparison : however, with the hope 
of returning, I can spend some time here without 
repining, and with the hope of seeing you here, I 
keep up my spirits. When you are perfect master 
of merchants' accounts, I think something may be 
done either here or in England : these sentiments 
I wrote you in my last letter. Mr. Cox is engaged 
in a large iron work, the produce of which is to be 
sent to England. Mr. Reed intends speaking to 
him to send to you to insure it, and as I believe 



ESTHER REED. 161 

some is to come to London, perhaps lie may con- 
sign it to jou ; but I don't know liow that matter 
stands : however, Mr. Reed will do everything he 
can for you. If you have any business to transact 
for Mr. Cox, you cannot be too careful and exact, 
as he is quite the man of business, and so remarkable 
for conducting it with circumspection and care, 
that whatever is done for him must be made the 
most of, and be done completely and correctly ; if 
anything of this sort should happen, much depends 
upon it : however, it is only a conjecture of my 
own at present ; it shall be real if possible. You 
have this much in your favor, that the horrible faults 
committed in conducting the last partnership busi- 
ness are all laid at Sayre's door, so that you have 
no difficulties in that respect, and you have only a 
character to support as an honest man, and capable 
of business. Much depends on your conduct at the 
present time. Mr. Reed lately received a letter 
from Mr. Gary, in which he informs him of the 
House of Assembly having voted the sum due for 
my dear father's Agency, and that as soon as the 
accounts of four houses came in, it would be imme- 
diately paid. I was much surprised at the choice 
of Dr. Franklin. Mr. Cary writes word that the 
choice would certainly have fallen on Mr. Reed if 
14* 



162 ESTHER REED. 

he had tarried in England. I cannot help some- 
times regretting ; but, on the whole, I believe it is 
best as it is ; it would have been a dreadful uncer- 
tainty, depending on the caprice of men who have 
shown temper so often, and would have kept us 
in too constant an anxiety. Mr. Reed wrote to 
Mr. Gary very strongly in favor of Dr. Lee, who, 
it is thought, would have been chosen instead of 
Franklin, if they had known his Christian name. 
I imagine by Mr. Reed's means he will have it 
without doubt next year, which will give me much 
pleasure. You must by no means depend on what 
I have said about Mr. Cox's iron, as I never heard 
it so much as hinted at, and I imagine Mr. Reed 
will be very cautious in recommending any step of 
that kind to Mr. Cox, as he is remarkably sanguine 
in his expectations, and till he is convinced that 
you are more capable of transacting business than 
it was possible for you to be, under the tuition of 
our counting-house. If Mr. Uffington should mark 
out any such plan, I hope you would not refuse it 
from false pride, as every young man, even sup- 
posing he had a fortune, must learn business if he 
intends to practise it, and the counting-house you 
have been used to always tended to unhinge a man 
from the proper method of trade : the longer I am 



ESTHER REED. 163 

acquainted with men here, I see it is impossible to 
think of business without a certain knowledge of it, 
which must be attained. For the present, my dear 
Dennis, adieu ! My dear Mr. Reed joins in the 
most affectionate wishes for your welfare. 
I am ever, most sincerely. 

Yours, 

E. Reed. 

P. S. I will just repeat the things I mentioned 
for you to buy for me : — A fine damask table-cloth, 
largest size, price £1 Is., and one of the next size ; 
a very neat fan (leather mount, if it is to be had), 
handsome for the price, if not, paper, — the sticks 
not very broad, the fan middling size, a guinea, or 
25s. ; set of dressing-boxes, the largest box in the 
shape of a fan, not too many in a set. Perhaps 
I have forgot some things here which I mentioned 
in my former letter, but if that comes to hand, you 
will buy all I have sent for, and I add, needles, from 
No. 5 to No. 11, a paper of each, a hundred in a 
paper, a packet of short and a packet of mid- 
dling pins — a packet, I believe, has four papers in 
each, — I think the best may be bought of Price. I 
would give something to be in Price's or Mr. Any- 
body's shop in London, even in Thames Street. To 



164 ESTHER REED. 

my great consolation, here is a street in Philadelphia 
very like Thames Street, and I rejoice when I can 
go that way. Captain More is arrived in Maryland, 
and has sailed for this port, but not yet arrived. 
Once more, adieu ! Pray buy the post-chariot neat, 
and painted in taste, and it's very necessary the 
harness should be neat, as we shall want something 
to set off the horses. 

Again she writes, a month later, a little restless 
at the gossiping provincialism of her new resi- 
dence. 

MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, January 17th, 1771. 

My dear Dennis : 

We w^ere very happy in hearing from you by the 
Packet. We are just settled in a good house and 
warm, which is very necessary, as the winter seems 
now to be just set in. The weather has been re- 
markably J^ne till a snow, which fell yesterday, and 
threatened us witl^ a severe spell. I am very glad 
the Admiral is so obliging, though I much question 
his lending you money, though that, by the by. 
Remember me very affectionately to them all. The 



ESTHER REED. 165 

people here seem to make themselves quite easy 
about paying their debts ; they smile in our faces 
and invite us to dinner, and then think we are 
obliged to them. But Mr. R. intends upon his 
return to make a bustle among them ; the attach- 
ments are a fine excuse for them. Dr. Lee's man- 
ner of behaving is most extraordinary.* I must 
leave it to Mr. R. to settle the matter. I am sure 
the Doctor is obliged to him entirely for his interest 
at Boston, and Mr. Reed wrote so much in his 
favor, that I dare say he will have the Agency next 
year ; he only reserved an interest for himself in 
his letter to Mr. Gary, and told him he had not 
given over thoughts of returning to England him- 
self, when he hoped his years and experience would 
give him more weight, but this is more than he dare 
say in this place, and it is only to be known to a 
few, or them at a distance. We meet with much 

* I have no means of knowing to what this aUudes. On the 
18th January, 1771, Arthur Lee had written a letter of most ear- 
nest friendliness to Mr. Reed (Reed's Memoirs, vol. i. 43). "I had 
very little doubt," he says, "notwithstanding Mrs. Reed's prepos- 
sessions, her being well satisfied and pleased with America. I 
cannot think either of the ladies will regret London, as you settle 
in Philadelphia, which, with all our elegancies, has much more 
virtue." 



166 ESTHER REED. 

civility, but I can't say the place suits me very 
well ; the people must either talk of their neighbors, 
of whom they know every particular, of what they 
both do and say, or else of marketing, two subjects 
I am very little acquainted with ; this I only say 
to you, for we hardly dare tell one another our 
thoughts, lest it should spread and be told again 
all over the town ; so, if anybody asks you how 
we like Philadelphia, you must say very well. 
Mamma is very well ; her only anxiety is concerning 
you, which indeed is sometimes very great ; how- 
ever, we keep up her spirits as well as we can, by 
making her life easy and happy. 

On the 4th of May, in anticipation of her first 
confinement, she writes in a tone of anxiety and 
melancholy solicitude, sustained as ever by strong 
religious sentiment, and the devoted love of her 
husband. 



MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, 4th May, 1771. 

I have more commissions for you, but I defer 
them till the event of a few weeks is known. 
My health has continued with very little inter- 



ESTHER REED. 1G7 

ruption ever since I have been here. I can't now 
expect to keep up much longer. My spirits are 
as tolerable as I could expect, though sometimes 
they seem as if they would fail. They are indeed 
supported by the most endearing and constant at- 
tention and kindness which my heart can wish. 
Everything my love for my dear Mr. Eeed made 
me expect, his tenderness fulfils. I sometimes draw 
an unfavorable omen from our happiness, that it 
must meet with some alloy. I suspect my own 
heart, that it is too much attached and engaged, but 
I endeavor to restrain it from this sinful error, and 
resign myself, my dearest friends, both on this and 
your side of the water, to the unerring and kind 
Disposer of all things, trusting in his almighty 
power for support under those burdens which he lays 
upon us. May he bless my dear brother." 

Soon after her daughter was born — a delicate 
sickly child ;* and on the 15th June, though scarce- 
ly recovered from the severity of illness, Mrs. Reed, 
with the forecast of a new and anxious mother, 
writes : 

* Martha Reed, who, all her life an invalid, died at Burlington 
in 1821. 



168 ESTHER REED. 

" Though my hand trembles a little, I have great 
reason to be thankful, as I have no complaint but 
remaining weakness;" and adds, "dear mother sits 
by me, and sends her tenderest love to you. She 
is very busy nursing her grand-daughter. I believe 
I shall make a good nurse, and I think I shall like 
my little girl very well by and by. If she lives, it 
will make me more anxious than ever to return to 
dear England, as the education of girls is very indif- 
ferent indeed here. I assure my dear Dennis I find 
this country and England two different places ; how- 
ever, for the present we must be content." 



CHAPTER X. 

1772. 

Correspondence contmued — A colonial Lawyer* s life — 
Galloway— Diclzinson — Chew and Wain — Lord Dart- 
mouth* s Reappointment as Secretary of State — Plans 
for returning to England. 

As time advanced, and her husband's professional 
prospects in his new abode brightened, the hopes of 
getting back to " dear England" seemed to abate. 
A letter in the beginning of 1772, besides the in- 
dication of this gradual and almost unconscious 
change of feeling, has some details of the Philadel- 
phia lawyers of those days that are curious. 

MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, Feb. 29th, 1772. 

After a long silence, your letter of the 6th De- 
cember came to my hand, which wears a style ol 
15 



170 ESTHER HEED. 

gloominess wliich I wish it was in my power wholly 
to remove, but it is impossible for me to say posi- 
tively that we shall return to England. It is a 
matter of uncertainty, but yet I am not without hopes, 
such as I would not part with for a great deal, that 
that happy time will arrive. We could not expect 
business or any other circumstances to be more pro- 
mising than they are. Providence has remarkably 
favored our settling in this place.* Out of the four 
greatest lawyers in the city, three have resigned 
practice. Mr. Galloway, being a good deal ad- 
vanced in life, and having a very large fortune, 
cares very little about it. Mr. Dickinson, also, 
married a wife worth c£30,000, is improving and 
building on his estate, and Mr. Wain, whom you 
may remember in the Temple with Mr. Reed, is, on 
a sudden, turned Quaker preacher. He had very 
great business — they say near X2000 a year, but 
he has resigned on principle, as he says no good man 
can practise law. However wrong these sentiments, 
I cannot say I am sorry they influence him just at 
this time. Mr. Chew has recovered his health per- 

* The Philadelphia Lawyers here enumerated were Joseph 
Galloway, John Dickinson, Nicholas Wain, and Benjamin Chew, 
gentlemen well known in political and professional life, both in 
colony times and afterwards. 



ESTHER REED. 171 

fectly, and practises as usual, but he cannot be on 
both sides of a question. Youngsters in the law 
are very plentiful, — some very indifferent, — others 
whose friends and connexions will do much for 
them, but an acquired reputation is worth it all. . . 
When I lay all these circumstances together, I can't 
help drawing a favorable conclusion that a few years 
will enable us to gratify our favorite wish, for I 
must say that England has charms that time does not 
wear off. A large family, if it should happen, will 
be a heavy weight, and I sometimes can't help a 
wish that Providence would find some settlement for 
you here, for I must say, if you was with us, I 
should lose one of my greatest attractions there. 

A letter a few months later, shows that her pen 
was sometimes used to lighten the Jabors of her 
lawyer husband. "I have but just time," she says 
(April, 1772), '' to write a few lines, as I have not 
quite left off my old occupation, for I am now pri- 
vate secretary, and copy letters which do not ap- 
pear in the ofiice. . ; . . Oh ! my dear brother, 
how do I wish that the prospect of meeting again, 
not to be separated, was clear ;* however, I do not 
despair; while there is nothing impossible in the 

* I may here note that Mrs, Reed never again saw the brother 
whom she so loved. Mr. De Berdt lived and died in England. 



172 ESTHER REED. 

way, I will hope. I cannot say America is agree- 
able ; the climate I dislike very much. I should be 
very glad to change this fine sky for our heavy one. 
There is so much clear, burning sunshine in the 
three summer months, that I do not wish for any 
more all the year. Mr. Reed will be glad you will 
send him all the new law books, which are recom- 
mended by those that understand the matter. Dr. 
Lee will be a good person to inquire of." 

MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, October 12th, 1772. 

I have now to acknowledge two of my dear Den- 
nis's kind letters : — how important are these mes- 
sengers, and how rejoicing to an affectionate heart, 
when they bring glad tidings of your health and 
welfare. I thank God for his kind Providence that 
has continued yours, and that is brightening your 
prospects: — the same kind hand has watched over 
us, and as a peculiar instance of it, I can inform 
you that I have passed through another scene of 
trial, and am recovered to perfect health and 
strength. I think I never enjoyed a greater share 
of health and spirits ; nothing is wanting but clearer 
prospects of returning to dear England ; it would 



ESTHER EEED. 173 

indeed rejoice my heart, once more to set my foot on 
that charming island. America must be allowed to be 
a fine country, but the conveniences and elegancies of 
England are unrivalled ; they are not to be expected 
here ; but I make myself contented. At present, we 
are in no small anxiety about our two dear children, as 
they are both inoculated, and we expect them to sicken 
every hour. Before this vessel sails, I hope to tell 
you they are in a fair way of recovery. Mr. Reed 
sent your letters and patterns to New York some 
time ago, so that I hope you will have some orders 
from there very soon. I am glad to find your con- 
nexion with Mr. Baillie so considerable ; that busi- 
ness has answered from a quarter we least expected. 
The consignments to our worthy friend Gary are, 
I believe, very agreeable, as they are quite in his 
way of business. Mr. Rudgrave gave your letter 
to one of the principal members of the Lower 
Counties Assembly, who said they had no business 
to be transacted in England, but when they had, he 
dare say they would have no objection to letting it 
pass through your hands. I hope to send you this 
fall, some cranberries and some sturgeon, and if 
possible, some venison hams ; but they are now 
become so scarce that it is difficult to procure any. 
I did not think the sum to Mr. Budd had been so 
15* 



174 ESTHER REED. 

considerable. I should be glad you inquire into the 
particulars, and if they appear reasonable and fair, 
pay him immediately. I shall have some commis- 
sions for you to send in the spring vessels ; if I 
have not time to recollect them now, I will, by Os- 
borne, who sails in little time. I am glad you have 
made so agreeable a tour to Birmingham, and as it 
answered your own design as to pleasure, I hope it 
will, as to business. It gives me pleasure to hear 
our friend G. Russell is so happily settled. I have 
a great regard for him, as he always behaved very 
well. I am sorry Mrs. Lyttleton (Lady, perhaps, by 
this time), has sacrificed so much to her ambition.* 
I fear her views of grandeur have quite overcome 
those of happiness ; but she must, as well as her 

* Married, July 8th, 1772, the Hon. Mr. Lyttleton, only son of 
Lord Lyttleton, to Mrs. Apphia Peach, widow of the late Colonel 
Peach, in the East India Company's service. This was the 
second and notorious Lord Lyttleton, who succeeded his father in 
1773, and died in 1779. Li the Annual Register of 1840 — in my 
day and generation — I find this obituary, "Died, April 11th, 1840, 
at Great Malvern, aged 96, the Right Hon, Apphia, Lady Lyttleton, 
widow of Thomas, second Lord Lyttleton. With means com- 
paratively slender, she was eminently charitable. The schools 
founded by her, the public walks laid out and improved, and the 
house of industry, are standing monuments of her benificent dis- 
jiosition." 



ESTHEK KEED. 175 

friends, make the best of it. Your account of Mrs. 
Sabine's manner of life, is truly amiable and con- 
sistent with her character and conduct, which was 
always lovely ; but of this I would not say more. 
Mr. Cox is extremely pleased with your conduct 
with regard to his consignments, and your punctu- 
ality in writing, and he speaks very highly of your 
manner of conducting business. Your pursuing your 
first laid plan of economy so closely gives us great 
pleasure, as it is the road to make your advance- 
ment as sure as human prudence can ; but I am a 
little surprised at Mr. Uffington's proposing for 
you to take his youngest son, as it would never have 
reclaimed him. So young a master could not have 
had sufiicient influence over him, and he could be 
of no service to jon. I am very sorry he has been 
obliged to send him so far from him. Of all afflic- 
tions, a bad child is certainly the greatest. Mr. 
Reed has wrote you, long since, how far his guaran- 
tee should extend : as to any engagement with Mr. 
Cox and Mr. Rhea, he has entered into none, but 
with regard to honesty and care, I believe they 
never desired any other. You will also receive some 
potash from another person here. I hope you find 
the commission considerable. Pray, do you do Mr. 
Cox's business on lower terms than five per cent. ? 



176 ESTHER REED. 

I think you once offered it under the common com- 
missions, which I am sorry for, as there was no mak- 
ing another bargain after you had once offered it. 
I enclose you a lock of hair and size of the finger 
to have a ring made ; the hair to be worked in as 
neat and elegant as you can, and set with garnets 
or rubies, or anything that will look genteel and 
pretty, not to exceed in price tAvo guineas and a 
half; if you can get it done for less, to be hand- 
some, but don't exceed that ; it is the hair of a young 
lady, a very intimate friend of Mr. Reed's sister, 
who died last summer. Have wrote on the ring 
" Eleanor Montgomery, died July 3d, 1772, aged 
18." Send me 4 pr. of Bk. Calma shoes, and de- 
sire Mr. Chamberlain to sticth them, and not bind 
them as he did the last. A dozen of 8 bowed cap 
wires ; a cap for Patty, such as a child two years 
old should wear. If they are what they call quilted 
caps, send two, as I cannot get any such here ; a quar- 
tered cap for my boy, a half-dressed handkerchief 
or tippet, or whatever is the fashion, for myself, 
made of thread lace. Also a handsome spring silk, 
fit for summer, and ncAV fashion. I leave it to your 
taste to choose it for me. I w^ould not have rich 
silk. You know I do not like anything very gay, 
but neat and genteel. Send it to Long's warehouse 



ESTHER REED. 177 

to be made up, and trimmed or not, as the present 
taste requires. If you call there they will tell you 
how much it will take. Buy the quantity, but cut off 
half a yard and send it to me with the gown: if you 
give them all, I shall never see an inch of it. By Os- 
borne, I will send you a gown to be dyed any color it 
will take best.* Thus far my commissions run at pre- 
sent. Remember me very affectionately to all friends, 
especially Mrs. Wood, whom I can't help pitying, 
as I fear her delicate constitution must suffer a great 
deal from such repeated trials. Mamma intends 
writing by Osborne, who will sail in about ten days. 
She has been unwell, but is now, thank God, much 
better. Adieu, my dear Dennis. I shall write you 
again by one of the fall vessels. May the best of 
blessings ever be yours. I am. 

Your truly affectionate, 

E. Beed. 

MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, October 20th, 1772. 

You will no doubt hear of the failure of a very 
considerable house in New York : it seems to have 

* All these minute commissions show how helpless and de- 
pendent these Colonies then were. 



178 ESTHER REED. 

been very unexpected, as tliey were in great credit. 
Many failures are expected here ; the city is so 
much overstocked with goods, that in many shops 
you may buy cheaper than in London, and the 
needy trader is constantly obliged for the sake of 
ready cash to send his goods (often bales unopened), 
to vendue, where they sometimes sell under prime 
cost, which is productive of universal bad conse- 
quences. I have made some inquiries about Neave's 
correspondents, and find that his best had left him, 
and settled in other hands long before he failed. 

I was in hopes the probability of obtaining 

Jiis grant would have prevented his affairs being 
exposed. The young man I mentioned in Virginia 
is not yet quite settled : he made some beginning 
in a ship which was unfortunately lost, but he is 
not yet fixed ; — he was an apprentice of Mr. Cox. 
You may be sure of his interest and his recommen- 
dation, Avhich will have more weight than any one's 
else. I am very glad to hear Lord Dartmouth 
has taken Lord Hillsborough's place ; he w^as cer- 
tainly a real friend of our dear father, and I dare 
say will further the payment of his salary.* I wish 

* Lord Dartmouth resumed his former position as Secretary of 
State for the Colonies, in August, 1772, and continued in office till 
1775. 



ESTHER REED. 179 

some use could be made of him to advance that 
foremost wish of our hearts to spend the remainder 
of our lives together. I think with you it is not so 
much matter where as when : if any place should 
fall vacant, I think you might use our father's in- 
terest for yourself: it is a little unlucky that the 
best offices are just now afresh filled up here, but 
some others may happen, which if they should, we 
will let you know immediately. Do tell us whether 
he is likely to be a fixed Minister, or only put in to 
stop the gap. I a little suspect the latter ; if so, 
any place of Secretary under him, could it be obtained 
for my dear Mr. Reed, would be too uncertain an 
interest, as his situation here now is pretty certain 
with respect to income, and it rather increases than 
otherwise ; but if he is likely to be settled, I could 
wish something of that sort would turn up ; but it 
must be something likely to be of some continuance, 
that would tempt him, or rather that would be 
prudent for him to accept. He has this last week 
tried two causes that have gained him considerable 
applause as a speaker ; in short, there is but one 
person (Mr. Chew) who can make much figure 
against him, as they are almost all youngsters. 
Mr. Reed is very much out of favor with Mr. 
Allen, who is the Judge of the Court here, for no 



180 ESTHER REED. 

other reason than that he thinks he will stand in 
the way of his two sons, who have just taken it 
into their heads to be great lawyers. You may 
remember how differently they studied when they 
were in the Temple ; but it is no great matter, as 
their fortune will excuse their want of application. 
We have not yet had the box from on board the 
vessel : the basket we have opened ; the walnuts 
are very fine indeed, but they come to more money 
than I expected ; — who did you buy them of ? I 
think they must have imposed on you; however, 
they are a great rarity here. The lamps, if we 
can manage them, will be of great use in summer, 
and perhaps will do to write by in the office ; the 
hammer-cloth will be of little use, as we do not use 
the box : perhaps, as it is so handsome, it may 
tempt us to drive with it; if not, I dare say we 
can dispose of it.* If Miss M. Palmer's bandbox 
contains a handkerchief, as I imagine it does, you 

* In the MS. collection of Simitiere, in the Philadelphia Library, 
is a list of the persons who kept carriages in 1772. The number 
is 86. Mr. Reed's equipage must, by comparison, have been a 
very modest one. In John Adams's Diary, 31st August, 1774, he 
says, "Mr. Dickinson, 'The Farmer of Pennsylvania,' came in 
his coach with four beautiful horses to Mr. Ward's lodgings to 
see us." 



ESTHER REED. 181 

need not send the one I wrote for in my last letter, 
if you have not already bespoke it. The caps for 
Patty I would not have you purchase of Miss Ga- 
bells, — the ones you sent last year were made of 
such bad materials that they are now of no use. 
Remember our compliments to them, as I shall 
always regard them for their care and attention to 
you. To my other commission, I add a box of 
ivory letters for Patty, and a hat or cap for my 
son, fit for a child of a year old. I don't like 
hussar caps and feathers ; it must be something 
genteel, like a gentleman's child, not a butcher's. 
The gown I proposed to send for, I find I can have 
done here, and as it is not worth much, I shan't 
take the trouble of sending. I have been confined 
the week past with my dear children, and the nur- 
sery has been almost all my care ; they are both 
likely to do very Avell, and have the small-pox very 
favorably. You see I have fulfilled your wish of a 
son.* I wish I could stop with that number, but 
I don't expect that. 

* My father, Joseph Reed, was born on the 10th July, 1772, He 
died at Philadelphia, on the 4th March, 184G,and is buried at Laurel 
Hill. To him, and his guidance in my childhood, to his almost sleep- 
less vigilance over my education, I owe everything. He was to me 
16 



182 ESTHER REED. 

Mr. Rhea is at present confined with the gout. 
I have communicated the scheme of queensware to 
him, and he promised me to write you his senti- 
ments, which I think are in favor of it.* I keep 
my letter open to enclose his ; if he can't write 
now, you shall have his opinion and directions by 
the next vessels, which will sail in about a fortnight, 
and by them, Mr. Reed will write you himself. My 
affectionate remembrance attends all those my 
friends that so kindly inquire after me, especially 
to my aunt Fouke and family, Mrs. Wood, etc. 
Adieu for the present, my dear Dennis. My wishes 
and prayers join with yours that we may meet 
soon again, and I am. 

Ever most affectionately. 

Yours, 

E. Reed. 

After the interval of a year — the intermediate 
correspondence relating to matters of domestic 

and to my brothers and sisters always gentle, affectionate, and, in its 
true sense, dutiful. 

* Mr, John Rhea was a merchant of Philadelphia in his day 
of high repute. I have in my possession, having recovered it by 
accident, a cane surmounted by a large American agate, with 
this inscription, " J. Rhea to J. Reed, Amicitia." 



ESTHER REED. 183 

detail, of no interest, — Mrs. Reed again writes on 
her familiar prospects. It is the last letter of this 
description I think worth quoting, before the open- 
ing of the Revolution, which was so rudely to break 
all relations of affection to the mother country — no 
longer "dear England." 

MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, October 28tli, 1773.* 

I have two or three of my dear brother's kind 
letters by me to answer ; his last of the 12th Au- 
gust, I just now received, which has accounted for 
not having one by Sutton, at which I was a little 
disappointed, and fully intended to chide you for ; 
but though I don't for that, I must for your suffer- 
ing two out of three London vessels to sail without 
a line, that had it not been for a letter by one of 
them from young Ingersoll,t we should have been 

* On 18th January, 1773, Arthur Lee writes from London to 
Mr. Reed, " I dare say the ladies hardly think of poor old Eng- 
land any longer. It is more natural to worship the rising than 
the setting sun, and certainly America is the former." The rest 
of this letter is at p. 47 of vol. L Life of Reed. 

t Jared Ligersoll, who afterwards married Mr. Reed's half- 
niece, Miss Pettit. He was then studying in the Temple. 






184 ESTHER REED. 

very uneasy, as every circumstance is alarming, and 
every omission of that kind raises a thousand fears 
while we are at so great a distance, that you must 
always write a line, if it is only to say that you 
intend writing by the other ship. I think I have 
not wrote you since yours in which you mention 
the design you had of inviting our dear mamma 
back to England, which, though it is pleasing in 
idea, and arises in your mind from the best motive, 
that of making her life happy, yet, I am fully per- 
suaded, would not answer to realize or succeed in 
the view you intend ; and I am very glad nothing 
was mentioned to her on the subject, as it would 
have turned her thoughts so much on it as they per- 
haps might not have been easily diverted; she 
sometimes hints such a thing to me, perhaps she 
has said more in her letters to you ; but I know her 
situation is as easy and independent as it can be, 
and our children add so much to her happiness and 
amusement, that I'm persuaded a change would be 
for the worse, as, supposing you to continue single, 
she must of course be too much alone ; and if you 
marry, it is more than probable everything might 
not be agreeable to all parties, and a separation 
from us both would make her miserable. I tell you, 
my dear Dennis, my sentiments freely on this sub- 



ESTHER REED. 185 

ject, that you may at least postpone your invitation 
for the present. You also ask me what are Mr. 
Reed's views and intentions as to returning to Eng- 
land ; this is a diflficult question for me to answer, 
and indeed I believe it would be as difficult for him, 
as it is not possible for him to form any intention 
concerning it, as everything, while his life and abili- 
ties last, is promising here, and there is no prospect 
for him there : but yet, as far as I can judge, if he 
should acquire a handsome independent fortune, he 
would willingly spend and enjoy it in England : but 
so many circumstances must unite to bring this 
about, and so many may arise to overturn it, that 
j nothing can be said on the subject of any conse- 

quence, or to build upon. I should be very happy 
indeed, my dear Dennis, at the prospect of oui* 
spending our future lives together ; it always seems 
as a cruel something wanting in my happiness, that 
we are so widely separated, and nothing lies with so 
much weight on my heart. I have turned over in 
my mind every scheme I could invent, and none 
appears to me so promising as the one I have so 
frequently mentioned, that of getting a partner to 
reside in London, and then I think it very likely 
in a few years you might find your interest as well 
served by settling here as in England, if you liked 
16* 



186 ESTHER REED. 

this country, which I do not think you would till 
after the first twelvemonths, as it difi'ers very much 
from England ; but I think after once used to it, 
you would find your life very happy here. Think 
of this, my dear Dennis ; it seems to me to have the 
fairest prospect ; but while I am talking, Mr. Keed 
tells me that he shall write you word that he thinks 
nothing can be done to purpose with regard to set- 
tling a good correspondence without your coming 
over yourself, as the people don't pay much atten- 
tion to his applications : this you cannot do without 
some very careful person to leave your business 
with, and none would be likely to answer so well as 
one interested in it, that I think you must seri- 
ously attend to the partnership scheme, but Mr. 
Reed will write you fully on this head. But, to 
leave every other subject, what must we say to our 
old friend Sayre? Certainly never was anything 
stranger or more unaccountable. Every person here 
is as much astonished as we were : — a remark which 
one gentleman made, is, I think, a very just one. 
"I see," says he, "what ignorance and impudence 
will do in London;" — certainly these two qualities 
had some hand in his advancement. Pray do send 
me word how he goes on, and if the bank succeeds : 
we have heard that it was never opened. I think 
he will yet fall to the ground unless he has recourse 



ESTHER HEED. 187 

to matrimony, and if he does not make haste, that 

will not succeed, as his beauty must be pretty well 

faded. However, I must leave him, wishing very 

much his heart and life mended with his fortune. 

If you ever see Dr. Ruston, I think he might be 

reminded of his debt to the old house. Mamma 

1 has wrote you a full account of the family and 

estate in Ypres ; it is an extraordinary incident, and 

' I think deserves to be attended to. I assure you I 

' have some expectations from it ; it happened within 

' so short a time. I wish we were in England, that 

Mr. Reed might help to unriddle the difficulty of it, 

i — don't you ? Pray send us word how you proceed 

( in it. I have not many commissions this fall. For 

I myself you may send a neat cap, fit for a genteel 

half-dress, — you can pack it with Miss Watson's, 

— and another hat for my boy ; he will be by that 

i time near two years old ; the other was rather too 

large in the crown. You must remember to tell the 

person it must be rather a small size for that age, 

as you cannot imagine our children are young Pata- 

gonians. I must now bid you adieu for this time, 

which I do with great regret, though I have wrote 

so long a letter. You must come to America. I 

long to see you, my dear Dennis, more than ever, 

but I dare not think much about it, lest some acci- 



188 ESTHER REED. 

dent should prevent you ; and even if you should, 
the idea of your returning damps my pleasure ; but 
I will not think of that, but dwell on the thoughts 
of bidding you welcome here, and the joy that will 
on that occasion rise in the heart of 

Your ever affectionate 

E. Reed. 

The letter referred to in the above about our 
Flemish ancestry, is as follows : 



Endorsed Philadelphia, Received November, 1774. 

I will give my dear Dennis the best account I 
can of his dear father's family. 

The original of them came from Ipres (or Ypres) 
in Flanders. They left that country for the sake 
of religion, where they were persecuted by Duke 
Alva. They left behind them a good estate ; and 
brought with them only some money and jewels, 
which was by stealth. I have often heard your 
dear father mention the circumstances. Mr. De 
Berdt had married a papist lady who he was fond 
of ; they had two children ; the night before he was 



ESTHER REED. 



189 



to come away, he told his wife the children were as 
much hers as his, he would leave her one, and take 
the other ; she was equally fond of him, and said 
where he went she would go. The first place they 
settled was in Colchester. The pictures of those 
persons are now there in one of the female branches 
of the family, which your dear father and I saw ; 
he would fain have had them, but could not obtain 
them ; if you inquire at Colchester, you may get 
more information than I can give you. I have 
heard him say that when the plague was in England, 
eleven out of fourteen died of the family, — from 
those three spring all the rest, John De Berdt's 
father, and, I think, there was one Abraham, and 
your grandfather. Your grandfather was appren- 
tice to a merchant, one Mr. De Berdt, a cousin, 
but he left out the De, and signed his name Berdt ; 
some of the family signed their names Bert, which 
has made great confusion in the families, though 
they were all of the same family. Your grand- 
father always kept to the original name De Berdt : 
there was an old lady (I think she lived at Chelsea) 
who was not married ; she signed her name De 
Berdt, if I remember right ; she has not been dead 
many years ; when she came to London she lodged 
at a dressmaker's near the pump in Bishopsgate 



190 ESTHER REED. 

Street ; it* you were to call there they might inform 
you whose daughter she was. I think they were 
some way related to her, but am not sure. I 
have forgot their names. There were some of the 
family lived at St. Edmond's Bury, who your father 
said w^ere cousins, — they signed their names Bert. 
Some years ago, I remember it was said that those 
people who left Ipres in the persecution of Duke 
Alva's time, if they would make out their titles, 
might have their estates. I often spoke to your 
father, but he, good man, gave no ear to it ; he 
sought a better country, which is an heavenly one. 
I forgot to tell you your grandfather's name was 
John ; if you look into the Dutch Bible you will find 
his name there. Some of their names are engraven 
in the Dutch church, — if you were to inquire there, 
perhaps you might get some information in their 
church books. I think I heard you say you met 
with a gentleman one day who said his name was 
De Berd. I think you said he was a counsellor ; 
do you know where he lived ? I believe there are 
some of John De B.'s sisters still living at Colches- 
ter, but are very poor. It would be worth while to 
go there. You might easily find out w^here the 
pictures are by inquiring. I do not know the per- 
sons' names, but the name of De Berdt is well 



ESTHER REED. 191 

known at Colchester, perhaps in their church books. 
I do not know whether they were dissenters, but 
believe they were. I have often heard your father 
say there's no other family of the name of De 
Berdt. I wish you success if it is good for you to 
have the estate ; if not, I do not.* 

* The Dutch church of my refugee ancestors is the church of 
the Austin Friars, London, given by Edward VL " to the poor 
who fled from the Netherlands, France, and other parts beyond 
seas." The Library is said to contain MS. letters of Calvin, Peter 
Martyr, and other foreign Reformers. — (Cunningham's London, 
L 285.) 



CHAPTER XL 
1774. 

Arrival of the Tea Ships — American Disturhaiices — 
Mm. Reed's Letters on Puhlic Affairs — The Boston 
Port J and Qiiehcc BUls — Letter from Hugh Baillie — 
Politics. 

Between the date of the last and of the next 
letter, public affairs had become very gloomy and 
perplexed. The foolish tea experiment of the Bri- 
tish government had been made and failed. At 
Boston, the cargo was destroyed ; from Philadelphia, 
it was decorously but decisively excluded. Popular 
tumult was with difficulty repressed ; and discontent, 
and resolute determination, if need be, to resist, 
were manifested everywhere. In May 1774, a few 
days after the effigies of Wedderburne and Hutch- 
inson had been burned in Philadelphia, and the 
rumor of the Boston Port Bill had reached America, 
Mrs. Reed, now rapidly becoming American in 



ESTHER REED. 193 

spirit and truth, writes again, sadly but resolutely, 
as to her own and her country's prospect. 



MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, 14th May, 1774. 

Not having yet received any letter from my dear 
Dennis, I have the less particularly to write, but I 
could not suffer this vessel to sail without a line from 
me. We are very impatient for the arrival of an- 
other ship, to have the particulars of the fate of 
Boston. The news of the removal of their Custom 
House is just received here, and distresses every 
thinking person. The Provinces are determined to 
stand by them, and make it a common cause. What 
will be the consequence, no eye can foresee. I fear 
the intercourse between this and England will in a 
great measure be stopped ; at least it will be inter- 
rupted for a time, and you, with the rest, will feel the 
bad effects of it in your trade affairs. I am dis- 
tressed on your account, as well as for the public. 
However, perhaps, very different measures may be 
adopted. These are only the hasty sentiments that 
first arise in the minds of the people, but whatever 
the result, my dear Mr. Reed will inform you of the 
17 



194 ESTHER REED. 

particulars, and advise what will be the most for 
your interest. How often, my dear Dennis, do I 
wish you were well settled here. Then England 
would have less charms for me, less attraction in it, 
and I should enjoy as much happiness as I have 
reason to expect in this Avorld ; but I cannot see any 
present prospect of this. The threatening appear- 
ance of political affairs darkens every scheme I turn 
in my mind, and I dare not dwell on the subject that 
yields so little hope. 

You will by this time think that a very melan- 
choly turn of mind has taken possession of me, 
since my whole letter thus far bears the marks of 
gloom and apprehension. I assure you, I do not 
find myself in a very cheerful humor, and princi- 
pally on account of this last news from England ; 
but I will dwell no longer on this subject but leave 
it to wiser heads to determine, and with more confi- 
dence than ever in a kind and overruling Providence 
to bring good out of evil. 

I don't know whether Mr. Reed has ever men- 
tioned to you the prospect of your having very 
shortly the Agency of New Jersey. It was talked 
of the last session of the Assembly of that Pro- 
vince, and was not immediately pushed on account 
of the Governor ; and as Doctor Eranklin's situation 



ESTHER HEED. 195 

has been so disagreeable a one, everybody is glad 
it rested as it did, but if he comes over or declines 
the office, I believe you will have it without any op- 
position. Agencies at present are not very desira- 
ble, but you could not have any on the Continent 
that would be attended with less difficulty ; it being 
an inland Province, and not engaged in any particu- 
lar dispute with the mother country. 

The letter concludes as usual with some domestic 
commissions. 

" Send me four boxes of tooth powder and tincture 
in proportion — also get made for me a tin form for 
blancmange in shape of a bunch of grapes. I could 
make my commission much larger but that I appre- 
hended a non-importation will take place, and in 
that case I would not have you think of sending a 
single article. If you should send them, send also 
some little matters for the children — a box of ivory 
letters, and a toy or two of small value. Remem- 
ber I have both boy and girl, though I suppose you 
hardly know how to believe it. Send something 
that will suit each. My little girl has grown strong, 
and will soon call on me for instruction. It makes 
me look very grave and considerate." 

Among the English correspondence of the year 
1774, I find one letter, which, though aside from the 



196 ESTHER REED. 

strict course of a memoir like this, and relating 
wholly to public affairs, I am tempted to quote, as 
illustrative of the "opposition" opinions in Great 
Britain, and of the boldness and earnestness with 
which they were expressed. It is very curious. The 
measures to which it refers, besides the Boston Port 
Bill, were the Act reviving the Statute of Henry 
VIII. for changing the venue of State Trials, and 
the Act known as the Quebec Bill — a measure which, 
by its supposed aggression on the religious liberties 
of the Protestant Colonies, excited violent resent- 
ment. 



HUGH BAILLIE TO MR. REED. 

London, August 2cl, 1774. 

Dear Sir : 

I have wrote several letters to you to the care of 
Mr. De Berdt. Since that time, some things have 
happened here which will be an eternal blot upon 
the memory both of our Parliament and Bishops. 
I've seen, for some time past, that some men in power 
about the King intended arbitrary power ; but cor- 
rupt as we are, I never thought they durst ever at- 
tempt to support it in America by introducing 



ESTHER REED. 197 

Popery and Slavery into Canada, and enlarging that 
Province in order to surround our Protestant breth- 
ren by French Papists. How they got the King 
to forget his coronation oath, and to forget the act 
of settlement of the crown upon his family, by both 
of which the protection of liberty and the Protes- 
tant religion are provided for, is more than I can ima- 
gine. But their thirst for arbitrary power is so great 
that nothing can stand in its way. They have, by a 
stroke of arbitrary power, destroyed the Charter of 
the East India Company, and have employed its 
revenues to maintain their sycophants and slaves; 
and they now want to apply the riches of America 
the same way, on pretence of a mob destroying some 
tea. Without so much as hearing the people of 
Boston, they have shut up its Port, and by the same 
rule they may shut up the Port of London, the first 
mob that happens here. They imagined the rest of 
the Provinces would sit still and see the trade and 
Charters of New England destroyed, as they pre- 
tended they had no designs against the rest of the 
Provinces. But they are now greatly alarmed on 
finding the union among the Provinces, and that 
they look upon the encroachments on New England 
as an attack upon all their charters and privileges. 
They have no safety hut in Union and by that they 
17* 



198 ESTHER REED. 

must break the neck of the present Adminstration ; 
for the whole trade of Britain must suffer so much, as 
well as the public revenue, that Lord Bute's influence 
must fall, and the rest are only his deputies. He has 
managed matters so, that those who fixed the crown 
in the Royal Family, and who are the lovers of lib- 
erty, are anxiously alarmed as they were in King 
James' time ; and the King has now for his sup- 
porters those put about him by Lord Bute, who are 
all Tories of Jacobite families, except some who have 
no religion at all. So you must judge how this must 
end, when the people of Britain see that their trade 
and manufactures are ruined, and their liberties and 
religion in danger. 

Great endeavours will be used to persuade you to 
sit still, and not to take vigorous measures, under 
pretence of being moderate and cool ; but rely on 
this, that your only safety lies in Union. Go all one 
way, and if you are resolved to stop trade with 
Great Britain, the next election of members of Par- 
liament must be against the present Ministry ; as the 
ruin of the manufactures of this country is inevita- 
ble, if the trade with America be destroyed. But 
if you dally with them, and under pretence of our 
promising things, delay coming to vigorous measures, 
everybody here will think you're betraying your 



ESTHER HEED. 199 

liberties, and your country. You have your Con- 
stitution as well as we. Your Charters are your 
Constitutions. Stand by them and you are safe. 
But if you are not steady on this point, and they 
can divide you, you are undone. I think it would 
be very proper to have a meeting of some deputies 
from every Province, and concert your scheme, and 
let it be known as to what you are determined upon, 
and to send over some deputies here against the 
next session of Parliament, in order to let your reso- 
lutions be known in the most respectful and firmest 
manner. Let your Deputies be engaged before they 
leave your country, as to the part they are to act, 
in the most solemn manner. The corruption here 
is so universal that there are few people proof against 
it, and I observe it begins to operate with you, for 
some people of Boston, I hear, have thanked Hutch- 
inson for his good management — who is universally 
believed to be a traitor to his country ; and I myself 
was personally acquainted with your agent from 
Pennsylvania, who they say put an end to himself, 
and who by receiving a pension and post from the 
Government, betrayed your interests. So you must 
be careful to send over such men, who both on ac- 
count of their character and independent fortune are 
above corruption. 



200 ESTHER REED. 

It was very unaccountable to see a Protestant 
House of Commons pass the Quebec Bill, establish- 
ing Popery with as much ease as they would have 
done any other thing that was a matter of indiffe- 
rency ; but it will not be believed in after history 
that there could have been twenty-six men found 
for twenty-six Protestant Bishops, who would have 
consented to prefer Popery and slavery, as our 
twenty-six bishops did, to the Protestant religion 
and liberty. But as you don't like bishops, and so 
won't divide your wealth amongst them, the arch- 
deacons, prebends, deans, canons, rich persons, &c., 
&c., like Papists better than you. Only compare 
the conduct of these bishops with those put in the 
Tower by King James for opposing Popery. It is 
evident they can have no religion, and they are 
much worse than the members of a certain house 
who are bribed by ready money, whereas, these 
venerable gentlemen are only bribed by the hopes 
of a better bishopric ; but, indeed, I'm told they 
all promise to do as they are bid before they are 
made bishops. 

I am sorry to find that Lord Dartmouth acts as 
bad a part as the rest. He opposed the Stamp 
Act under Lord Rockingham, but now that Lord 
North is at the head of the Treasury, he recollects 



ESTHER REED. 201 

that his grandfather, Colonel Legge, was intimate 
with Lord North's grandfather, who opposed the 
Protestant succession, and was one of the Jacobite 
Ministry at the end of Queen Anne's reign. 

To conclude, I hope you will all move staunchly 
in the cause of liberty and your country, and were 
I a few years younger, I should choose to live and 
die among you.* I think this country is going into 
slavery, and I would not choose to be buried among 
slaves, and I should choose your cause as the last 
I plead before my death without either fee or re- 
ward. My compliments to your family, and 

I am, 

Yours, &c., 

H. B. 

There are other letters from Mr. Baillie of the 
same temper, and breathing the same sympathy 
with colonial wrong, which I should be glad to 
copy, and should do so, did I not see the danger 
of crowding out my domestic and familiar narra- 
tive. Mrs. Reed's correspondence, to which I gladly 
return, has in it quite politics enough. She is, I 
repeat, fast becoming an American patriot woman. 

* " Were I young, and of heroic texture," writes a very diffe- 
rent man a few years later, " I would go to America." — Walpole 
to Lady Ossory (1781), vol. ii. p. 62. 



202 ESTHER REED. 



MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, Nov. 2cl, 1774. 

I have two of my dear Dennis's letters by me 
unanswered, one of which is of a very early date, 
and ought to have been acknowledged long ago. 
But when I tell you I have another daughter, you 
will not wonder that I have this time been a little 
negligent in answering letters. I assure you my 
hands are pretty full of business. Three children 
seem to take up all my time and attention, but, 
amidst these surrounding family concerns, my 
dear brother keeps his place in my affectionate 
regards with undiminished warmth, — but what need 
of assurances. Our hearts must have suffered some 
dreadful change if we could suspect each other's 
tenderest affection. I am now in great hopes of 
seeing you here. The total stop of business would 
give you leisure at home, and if American affairs 
take the wished-for turn, I am sure a voyage and 
knowledge of the country would be the most advan- 
tageous step you could take ; but on this subject 
what can I say or advise — important it is become 
indeed. The next news from England after Parlia- 
ment meets, I imagine, will be decisive. May God 



ESTHER REED. 203 

grant it may not be hostile. A determination to 
proceed and enforce must inevitably plunge New 
England into a scene of blood and all the horrors 
of civil war, and how far it would extend it is im- 
possible to say. 

When I realize these dreadful events I wish for 
a safe retreat in Old England ; but when I think 
further that England would not long be at peace if 
a civil war should break out here, I hardly know in 
which country the safest retreat could be found ; 
perhaps it would be here, but may God grant wis- 
dom and moderation to our rulers, that such dread- 
ful events may not take place. Many people here 
are very sanguine in their expectations that the 
Acts will be repealed immediately, and I believe 
many have sent orders on that ground, but I cannot 
believe any such happy change will speedily take 
place. The people of New England have not such 
expectations. They are prepared for the worst 
event, and they have such ideas of their injured 
liberty, and so much enthusiasm in the cause, that 
I do not think that any power on earth could take 
it from them but with their lives. The proceedings 
of the Congress will show you how united the whole 
continent is in the cause, and from them you may 
judge of the sense of the people, — but I can say 



204 ESTHER REED. 

nothing new on politics. Sentiments of this kind 
will reach you from every quarter. 

The Congress brought some private pleasure as 
well as public advantage. It gave us the opportu- 
nity of seeing some of our old correspondents, Mr. 
Gushing, Mr. Adams, etc., with whom we spent 
some cheerful hours, but especially our very worthy 
friend, Mr. Gary, who has just left us, after spend- 
ing near a month with us, and giving us much 
pleasure with his company.* He is a most cheer- 
ful, worthy old gentleman, and from his former 
friendship with our dear father, and regard for us 
and you, I never entertained any person more 
affectionately or with greater pleasure. We were 
all low-spirited when he went away. His son also 
was a week with us, and we were happy in their 
company. He gave us a kind invitation to his 
house, which we intend to accept about this time 
next year, if no accident prevents, and if things 
take a favorable turn, I think you must come and 
go with us.f I can't help looking forward to the 

* John Adams's Diary of 1774, it seems to me, gives an excel- 
lent idea of the state of society in this, the then Metropolis of the 
Colonies, — the best indeed I know. 

•{• " This time next year," the reader need scarcely be reminded, 
found civil vv^ar throughout the land. Mr. Gary's home at Charles- 



ESTHER FtEED. 205 

time I hope to see you, and that you will find your 
advantage in it. But on the subject of business 
what can I write that can be pleasing, since it is 
entirely stopped. However, for your comfort I 
must tell you that when trade returns (if it ever 
does) you will have an opportunity of extending 
your connexion here to advantage. The agency 
affairs must rest as at present, as no Assembly has 
met, and nothing can be done till then. You may 
depend on every endeavour to serve you in that 
respect when the opportunity oiFers. Your letter 
to one of the members of Jersey was delivered to 
a gentleman, a particular friend of Mr. Reed, and 
of great influence in the House. You will see the 
Assembly of this Province has again chosen Dr. 
Franklin their agent, and doubled his salary, and 
by his son's, the Governor's, conversation, a little 
time ago, the Doctor was coming into favour again. 
Is it so ? Pray write us as particularly as you can 
about politics, as everybody is anxious for every 
piece of intelligence on that subject, and they look 
upon Mr. Reed's advice from you as pretty au- 

town had been reduced to ashes by a British bombardment, and 
its ruins were overlooked by the American soldiery who encircled 
the army of the mother country, beleaguered within the limits of 
Boston. 

18 



206 ESTHER HEED. 

thentic. . . . Pray let us know the first moment 
you determine to come to America, as I must give 
you a whole sheet of advice and caution, and let 
you know Avhat you must expect when you come to 
this part of the world, and prevent your falling into 
many errors, which almost every Englishman does 
on his arrival here, and very much to their preju- 
dice. . . But I must conclude this long letter, or I 
shall not have room to assure you how affectionately 

I am ever, 

Yours, 

E. Reed. 

MRS. reed to MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, February 13th, 1775. 

There is nothing for me to communicate to you 
concerning business that can give you any pleasure. 
You feel by this time that it is at a stand, and you 
will be the first to see any prospect of its returning 
to its old channel, as it depends on measures taken 
on your side of the water. . . . Mr. Eeed's engage- 
ments in business are so numerous and extensive 
that his head is almost overcharged. As his busi- 
ness requires so much head work, it must engage 
him more than if it depended on his hands. This 



ESTHER REED. 207 

with his late attention to politics has engrossed him 
more than common, and obliges him sometimes to 
postpone, though I assure you, he does not neglect 
your concerns here. 

Of politics, I suppose you will expect me to say 
something, though everything now must come from 
you, and we are anxious to know what is to be the 
fate of this once rising country. It now seems 
standing on the brink of ruin. But the public 
papers will tell you everything, and Mr. Reed will 
also write you on the subject, so that little will be 
left for me to say, only that the people are in gene- 
ral united. The Quakers are endeavouring to steer 
a middle course, and make perhaps a merit of it to 
Government at home. How far their conduct will 
answer, I don't know, but it is despised here. One 
great comfort I have is, that if these great affairs 
must be brought to a crisis and decided, it had better 
be in our time than our childrens. You must not 
forget to write us every piece of intelligence con- 
cerning American affairs that you can pick up, 
especially what is said in the House, and who is on 
our side, and who against. These are of great con- 
sequence, and we place considerable confidence in 
your intelligence. 

Remember me to all my friends who inquire of 



208 ESTHER REED. 

my welfare. I love to think of England and of old 
times ; perhaps I may see it again. It is surely a 
noble country, but such wishes and hopes I must 
keep concealed : perhaps they had better not rise 
at all. However, whether I shall be gratified in 
them or not, I can't give up the thought that I shall 
see you here, and that, soon, but I leave these things 
to a wise and gracious Providence to dispose of for 
the best. For the present, my dear brother, adieu. 
Believe me, ever most assuredly and affection- 
ately. Yours, 

E. Eeed.* 

* About this tirae (February 2d), Mr. Reed wrote to his brother- 
in-law : " I must reserve my politics for a future letter ; but we 
have such suspicions of foul play at your Post Office, that few 
choose to express themselves fully. I should be glad of your 
sentiments on this subject. It is a most infamous procedure, and 
I hope they may open this letter in order to be told of it. I have 
no notion of that State necessity which violates all the engage- 
ments of common honesty and social confidence. If you know 
Mr. Quincy, make my compliments to him. I should be glad to 
hear from him. I don't think your letters especially by private 
ships run the same risk as ours." — 31S. Letter. In George Gren- 
ville's Papers, vol. iii. pp. 311-342, are some curious illustrations 
of post-office insecurity. 



ESTHER REED. 209 



MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, March 14th, 1775. 

The next letter from your side of the water will 
be important on every account. The whole country 
is in anxious expectation of the result of the deter- 
mination of Parliament, which must decide the fate 
of this country ; our hopes are very much elated by 
the Merchants' Petition. If the popular and mer- 
cantile voice are in our favour, I think there is great 
reason for our hopes. The petition from Jamaica, 
I imagine, will add considerable weight. If the ^ 
West India Merchants should join the others, it must 
preponderate the scales in our favour. God only 
knows what the event will be : this comitry wishes 
for nothing so much as dependency on the Mother 
State on proper terms, and to be secure of their liber- 
ties ; and you may depend on it that the accounts 
given that this country is aiming at independence, are 
false, and arise only from the enemies of both coun- 
tries. You may judge, my dear Dennis, how inte- 
resting politics are, when they employ so much of my 
thoughts and attention, now I am surrounded with 
family concerns ; however, they are important to me, 
particularly as I have a share in both countries and 
18* 



210 ESTHER REED. 

am interested in the welfare of both more than the 
common run of the people here : — but my politics 
must not take up any more of my time, as this 
vessel sails to-day, and I have not much left, only 
to beg of you to keep us well informed of public 
affairs, and as many of the particular manoeuvres as 
you <can. Do tell us what part the great Doctor 
Franklin is taking ; whether he has the openness to 
declare his sentiments before he sees which way 
affairs will terminate. 



211 



CHAPTER XII. 

1775. 

Battle of Lexington — Burning of Charlesioivn — Richard 
Cary — Mr, Reed at Camp — Secretary to Washington 
— 31rs. Reed^s Letters on Public Affairs — Letter from 
John Cox — American Independence. 

I HAVE now brouglit my narrative to the verge of 
actual war, for in little more than a month from the 
date of the last letters, in which the writer, echoing 
no doubt the opinions and sentiments around her, 
spoke so earnestly and affectionately of the mother 
country and the ties that bound the Colonists to 
Great Britain, the blow at Lexington was struck 
and Independence became a fact. The excitement 
occasioned by the news of the conflict, in the Middle 
and Southern Colonies, was extreme, and it belongs 
to History to describe its progress and results. The 
intelligence came to Mr. Reed's family from their 



212 ESTHER HEED. 

friend Richard Gary of Cliarlestown, whose letter 
after describing the affair at Concord, and the retreat 
of Lord Percy's troops, thus depicts the excitement 
" down east."* 

RICHARD GARY TO MR. REED. 

" Things are brought into such a melancholy 
state that all business is laid aside — people are 
leaving their habitations, and retiring into the 
country for safety, many not knowing where to 
go. The Province is alarmed. Large bodies of 
soldiers are collecting and enlisting into the Pro- 
vincial army. General Gage and his troops are 
shut up in Boston. He, and the inhabitants are 
distressed for want of fresh provisions. There was 
an agreement between him and them, that on deli- 
vering up their arms they should be allowed to come 
out with their effects, in doing of which he promised 
to assist them all that lay in his power. How asto- 
nishing to tell you, many can't get papers to come out 
at all. None are allowed to bring out any provisions 
with them. They will permit nothing but furniture 
to come out. To see the poor people coming out 

*MS. Letters, May 3d, and 13th, 1775. 



ESTHER REED. 213 

over the ferry without anything to eat, is affecting. 
Take it altogether it is a scene of confusion and 
distress, especially it was so, for the women and 
children, when the Regulars were drove into this 
town by the country people from Concord. My 
daughter Nancy is in the country, which I wish was 
with you. The rest of the family are with me. I 
shall continue in town until I apprehend danger. I 
am of some little service to my distressed friends 
that come out of Boston, who give me pleasure in 
coming freely to my house. My dear friend, what 
a trial are many of us exercised with, in being 
obliged to leave our habitations, quit our business, 
be separated from our families and friends, and 
know not when we shall enjoy them again. Gene- 
ral Gage breaking the capitulation he made with the 
town of Boston, is base and dishonourable, for which 
he must be universally condemned. There's now 
such a spirit prevailing, no difficulties or dangers 
will discourage our brave countrymen, from support- 
ing and defending the rights and liberties of their 
country. I could enlarge but my mind is so con- 
fused, I'm not fit to write. My best regards to all 
friends, particularly to your dear family. Let me 
hear frequently from you. The state of Boston 
and Charlestown, demands the pity of every humane 



214 ESTHER REED. 

lieart. May God sanctify our troubles, and take 
us under the protection of his Providence and 
grace." A few days later, Mr. Gary adds in a Post- 
script. " I have been made happy by receiving your 
very acceptable favour of the 28th of April, which 
is like a cordial. The sympathy, union, and sup- 
port of the Southern Colonies is a matter of joy 
and thankfulness, and gives a noble courage and 
ardour under our distress. We are impatiently 
waiting till we hear from the Continental Congress 
— nothing will be done till their minds are known. 
Their advice will be followed. The difficulty of our 
friends getting out of Boston, daily increases. It 
is not doubted, the General intends to keep a great 
number of respectable inhabitants of property in. 
His conduct to encourage the negroes to leave their 
masters and come into his service, which many have 
done, is astonishing. It looks as if the horrors and 
distresses of a civil war will soon take place, on the 
arrival of his troops. To be cooped up in Boston 
without fresh provisions, &c., will be too dishonour- 
able and humiliating for British troops, that have 
been a terror to Europe. Things appear too violent 
to last. It looks by the spirit and union that 
America will prevail and be free. As you justly 
observe, Lord Dartmouth's conduct is astonishing. 



ESTHER REED. 215 

The love of money is tlie root of all evil. Dr. 
FraBklin's advice is pleasing, and will be followed. 
A thousand thanks is returned for your sympathy, 
concern, and kind invitation. It is like, Nancy may 
see you, and personally express her gratitude. 
Adieu, my dear friend. Every blessing attend you 
and yours. I am, 

"Your very affectionate friend. 
"Richard Gary." 

In June of this year, Washington was appointed 
Commander-in-Chief, and Mr. Reed, with a number 
of Philadelphians, set out to accompany him on his 
way to Boston, where the Continental army was 
organizing. The folloAving earnest and sincere letter 
written during his absence, and probably before the 
news of the battle of Bunker Hill, for intelligence 
travelled very slowly, shows that his wife had no 
idea that his absence was more than temporary, or 
that he was about to become a soldier. It shows, 
however, also, how well prepared her generous spirit 
must have been for the news w^hen it did come. 
She had the heart of a soldier's wife. 



216 ESTHER REED. 



MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, June 24th, 1775. 

I have two of my dear Dennis's letters by nie 
unanswered ; one of the 3d of May I receh^ed a few 
days ago, but for a particular answer I must refer 
you to another opportunity ; this vessel sailing in 
haste does not give me time to be particular, only 
to tell you we are well. Mr. Reed has been very 
unwell all summer with an intermitting fever, but 
I hope is now perfectly recovered ; he is at present 
attending General Washington part of his way to 
Boston, where he is gone to take the command of 
the American army. Alas ! my dear Dennis, what 
melancholy scenes we have lived to be engaged in ; 
civil war, with all its horrors, stains this land, and 
whatever our fellow-subjects may think, the people 
here are determined to die or be free. They are 
now raised to a pitch it was thought they^never 
could arrive at ; but so it is, and they shrink not 
at anything that yet appears before them. The 
part which my dear Mr. Reed has taken in the 
civil and military affairs of his country, malces his 
return to England at present totally improper ; for 
much as I wish him free from danger, yet I could 



ESTHER REED. 217 

not ask him to act so cowardly a part as to fly 
when his country so eminently needs his assistance, 
both in advice and action. You will see, my dear 
Dennis, by the papers, that he is appointed lieu- 
tenant-colonel of our battalion of militia. Indeed, 
everything in this City bears a warlike aspect. Two 
thousand men in the field, all ' in uniform, make a 
very military appearance. A regiment of men 
whom they call riflemen, dress themselves like 
Indians, and make a very formidable show. Every- 
thing which we feared seems come to pass ; but, 
among all our public troubles, I sincerely rejoice at 
the good account my brother gives of his private 
aff'airs ; — to have £1000 out at interest in so short 
a time, is more than I expected, and I hope he is 
not unmindful of that kind and bountiful hand which 
bestows the blessings. I am distressed what you 
will do in this state of afi'airs. Trade is entirely 
out of the question ; nothing but the sound of arms 
and the destruction of w^ar engages this country; 
however, I think you may come over to see us 
without any hazard, — your being an Englishman 
will excuse you from taking an active part in our 
dispute, and your being a friend to this country in 
principle, would not expose you to danger, but 
rather be pleasing to the people here. I do, indeed, 
19 



218 ESTHER REED. 

long as much to see you as you can imagine ; it 
seems an age to me since I took leave of you. Oh ! 
my dear Dennis, you must come if possible ; my 
heart leaps for joy at the thoughts of seeing you: 
you must come and protect and take care of us if 
my dear Mr. Reed should be called to act in defence 
of his country ; but this thought I can't bear neither, 
and I hope a kind Providence will interpose yet in 
our favour, and find out some way for our relief: — 
but I must bid you adieu. I believe that this letter 
is an incorrect ramble, as I have not time to read 
it over, or digest any thoughts, and only just to 
tell you that 

I am, with the tenderest aiFection, 

Yours, 
E. Reed. 

Again, in July, Mr. Reed being then at Cam- 
bridge, she writes in the same tone. 

MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, July 22d, 1775. 

I wrote, my dear Dennis, about a fortnight ago, 
since which an event has taken place which I little 
thought of, and which I assure you my dear Mr. 



ESTHER REED. 219 

Reed as little suspected when he went from home, 
that is, his appointment as Secretary to the General, 
in which station he stays at Cambridge till a fixed 
appointment is made, as he does not intend to take 
upon himself the constant business. However, I 
don't expect him home for two months at soonest. 
I know how much you will feel for me in this situa- 
tion. I confess it is a trial I never thought I 
should have experienced, and therefore am the less 
prepared to bear it, but I am very happy that his 
character does not expose him to personal danger, 
and he is as secure as he can be amidst so much 
war. What do you think — what do the people 
in general think of our distresses and conduct? 
The whole continent is so engaged now that they 
never will give up. Georgia has joined the Con- 
gress, — every heart and every hand almost, is warm 
and active in the cause : certainly, my dear brother, 
it is a glorious one. You see every person willing 
to sacrifice his private interest in this glorious con- 
test. Virtue, honour, unanimity, bravery, — all con- 
spire to carry it on, and sure it has at least a chance 
to be victorious. I believe it will, at last, whatever 
difficulties and discouragements it may meet with 
at first. A variety of avocations have prevented 
my writing till the last moment of the ship sailing, 



220 ESTHER REED. 

that I can only say we are well. I heard from 
Mr. Reed this afternoon, and he is also well. Adieu, 
my ever dear Dennis : do come and see us in the 
day of trouble, that I may give you once more 
some personal marks of my affection, for I am tired 
of having only this manner of assuring you how 
I am, sincerely and affectionately, yours, 

E. Reed. 

With what feelings others received this news of 
Mr. Reed's change of destiny, is apparent from a 
letter written at this time by an esteemed friend, 
a most gallant and patriotic gentleman, and which 
I quote here, not merely for its incidental illus- 
tration of my narrative, but because the writer is 
one whom the traditions of my family have taught 
me to regard with extreme respect. Mr. John Cox 
is the gentleman to whom I refer. His wife, whom 
in advanced age I can well remember, was my 
grandmother's steadiest, truest friend. They seemed 
to have loved as sisters. 

COLONEL JOHN COX TO MR. REED, AT CAMBRIDCxE. 

Philadelphia, July 26th, 1775. 
My DEAR FRIEND, 

As none of your friends here had the most dis- 



ESTHER HEED. 221 

tant idea of your intention to proceed with the 
General further than New York, you might with 
great propriety conclude they were not a little sur- 
prised when they were informed of your having 
gone through to Cambridge, but much more was 
their astonishment, on being told you had accepted 
the office of Secretary, as it was a sacrifice the 
public could have no right to expect from a person 
situated as you were. However, on the whole, 
though I must confess I, with many other of your best 
friends, on the first view of matters, could not but 
think you very wTong, I begin now to view your 
conduct in quite a different point of light, and have 
the pleasure to inform you, it has effectually rivetted 
you in the esteem of your fellow-citizens of all 
ranks, and you may rest assured, should there be 
any men embodied in this Province to act in con- 
junction with the New England troops, that the 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second Battalion will not 
be forgotten ;* but at present there seems but very, 

* The officers of the three battalions of Pennsylvania troops 
were : — First battalion, Colonel, John Dickinson ; Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel, John Chevalier ; Majors, Jacob Moyer and William Coats. 

Second battalion. Colonel, Daniel Roberdeau ; Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel, Joseph Reed; Majors, John Cox and John Bayard. 

Third battalion, Colonel, John Cadwalader; Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel, John Nixon : Majors, Thomas Mifflin and Samuel Meredhh. 
. 19* 



222 ESTHER REED. 

little prospect of it, as I do not believe we shall be 
able to raise a single company on the contracted 
plan proposed by our Assembly, Tvhicli orders forty- 
five hundred men immediately raised in the different 
parts of the province to be ready to march at a 
minute's warning, without any allowance or pay, 
except when in actual service, which are terms 
which our common people cannot think of comply- 
ing with, nor do we think they ought. The officers 
and committees of the city and county, with the 
Committee of Safety, had a meeting a few days ago 
on that business, when the resolve touching minute 
men was fully debated, and though the mode pro- 
posed by the House, and recommended by the Con- 
gress, was by no means thought practicable, yet as 
no application could with propriety be made to 
either of those bodies for further provision, previous 
to sounding the Associators on the subject, it was 
agreed to make the experiment, and that we might be 
prepared, on refusal, having in view at the same time 
the putting our Association on a more respectable 
footing, and falling on some method to oblige the 
inhabitants throughout the Province, not consci- 
entiously principled against taking up arms, to join 
the Association, and for several other good pur- 
poses, it was resolved that the Committee of the 



ESTKEil REED. ZZd 

City and Liberties of Philadelphia should be re- 
quested to call a Provincial Convention without 
delay ; which question on being last night in full 
committee moved and warmly debated, was, through 
the opposition given to it by Messrs. Dickinson and 
Thomson, who appeared there on purpose to oppose 
it, carried in the negative, so that we shall now be 
obliged to wait the next session of the Assembly, 
before anything further can be done in the matter. 
The Committee of Safety are now busily engaged' 
in preparing to stop our navigation by sinking what 
they call a chevaux-de-frise at Red Bank, and have 
likewise a number of large gondolas, to carry from 
fifty to sixty men, and an 18-pounder in the bow, 
to be immediately built. One or two of them are 
already finished. What execution they m\\ be able 
to do I really know not, but it is said by those who 
pretend to understand the matter, that three or 
four of them are more than equal to a 20-gun ship. 
We have now a man-of-war at Newcastle, sent, I 
suppose, to put the late Act of Parliament into exe- 
cution. How far she will be able to succeed is 
uncertain. I wish we may not have more of them 
before our navigation is stopped. I have the plea- 
sure to inform you that your battalion, through the 
indefatigable industry of your brother colonel and 



224 ESTHER REED. 

the majors, do credit to the Association, and I have 
the vanity to believe would cut no despicable figure 
even at Cambridge. We meet in battalion regularly 
three times a week, and very often in general divi- 
sions. 

Immediately on the receipt of your letter inform- 
ing us of your having accepted the Secretaryship, 
I warmly pressed Mrs. Reed to go with her family 
to Burlington, where we would endeavour to accom- 
modate her, but she rather preferred going to By- 
berry, not far from Pennypack, where she was in- 
formed she could be well accommodated on moderate 
terms, but being disappointed in her expectations, 
and there being no house to get either at Burlington 
or elsewhere to her mind, I have at length persuaded 
her to divide herself and family between Mrs. Bowes 
Reed and Mrs. Cox, at Green Bank, assuring her 
that nothing shall be left undone to make her as 
happy as she can possibly be, in your absence, which 
without a compliment, she bears like herself. She, 
with the family, intend going up with me about 
the middle of next week. Any letters to Mrs. 
Reed, brought by Mr. Hodge* to my house, will be 
immediately forwarded to Burlington, and I will 
take care to forward her's to you. Miss Patty is I 

* Andrew Hodge, then a student in Mr. Reed's office. 



" 



ESTHER REED. 225 

think much better, and the rest of the family are 
as you left them. One of the Pilot boats, des- 
patched some time ago to the West Indies for 
powder, arrived a few days ago from the Mole (?), 
with upwards of 500 quarter casks, and there are 
two more daily expected, so that in all probability, 
we shall ere long be pretty well supplied with that 
article, which we have been in great pain about, for, 
without that, all our spirit and military preparations 
would answer no valuable purpose. Believe me, 
when I tell you that we never stood more in need of 
your assistance, than since your absence, particu- 
larly in Committee ; indeed to be plain, without a 
compliment, no man was ever so missed, nor can we 
possibly do without you, so that your speedy return 
is not only anxiously wished by your family and 
friends in particular, but by every man in the City, 
who is either interested in, or wishes well the 
common cause. Through the recommendation of a 
friend of mine, I take the liberty to mention to 
your notice Mr. Thomas Craig, Quarter-Master to 
Colonel Thomson's Regiment of Riflemen, who, I 
expect, will be Ayith you in a fortnight, at farthest, 
as the Colonel is to set out to-morrow to join the 
several companies on the road, somewhere between 
this and New York. If there should be any cannon 



226 ESTHER REED. 

shot wanted at the camp, I should be glad you 
should think of Batsto,* as I could supply the army 
with any quantity they might stand in need of. I 
am now casting some for our Artillery Company. . . 
May God bles^ and protect you, is the wish of your 
affectionate friend and well wisher. 

John Cox. 

Mr. Reed remained at Camp in the performance 
of arduous and responsible duty till October, 1775. 
His letters homeward have been already published, 
but all or nearly all of Mrs. Reed's replies are 
lost. I have therefore to return to her corres- 
pondence with her friends in England, which the 
disturbance of the times much interrupted, but 
which even in its mutilated form, seems to me 
most characteristic and interesting. Having re- 
mained some time "with her little flock," at Green 
Bank, at Burlington, f Mrs. Reed, in the month of 
September, 1775, paid a visit to her brother-in-law, 
Mr. Pettit, at Perth Amboy, whence the following 
letter was written. There is eloquence in its simple 

* Mr. Cox's furnace in New Jersey. 

■f" The place on Green Bank occupied by Colonel Cox, and at 
which Mrs. Reed and her little ones were so often welcome guests, 
I have always understood, is that occupied by Mr. Charles Chaun- 
cey (1849). 



ESTHER EE ED. 227 

earnestness. There is in it no hankering after 
home, and the Old Country, but from first to last, 
it is the expression of thorough American feeling. 

MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Amboy, Sept. Sth, 1775. 

You will see by the date of this, that I am from 
home ; the health of my dear girl which always suffers 
in the summer months, was the chief reason of my 
coming here ; I find it very beneficial to her, and 
pleasant for myself. I received your's of the 20th 
and 21st of June. The news they contained, though 
not very material, I sent to my dear Mr. Reed at 
the Camp. He is yet there amidst all the confusion 
and horrors of war. Before this time you know 
our dreadful situation here, and indeed that of every 
Southern Province. We only hear the sound, but 
it is such a one as sometimes shakes my firmness 
and resolution ; but I find the human mind can be 
habituated to almost anything ; even the most dis- 
tressing scenes after a while become familiar. I am 
happy that Mr. Reed's situation at Camp, is the 
most eligible he could have been placed in, — his ac- 
commodations with the General, — in his confidence, 
— and his duty in the Councils rather than the field. 



228 ESTHER REED. 

while his person is safe from danger, I cheerfully 
give up his profits in business (which were not tri- 
fling), and I acquiesce, without repining at his being 
so lono; absent from me. I think the cause in which 
he is engaged, so just, so glorious, and I hope will 
be so victorious, that private interest and plea- 
sm^e may and ought to be given up, without a 
murmur. But where sleep all our friends in Eng- 
land ? "Where sleep the virtue and justice of 
the English nation ? Will nothing rouse them, 
or are they so few in number, and small in con- 
sequence, that though awake, their voice cannot 
be heard for the multitude of our enemies.* 
How strange would this situation of things have 
appeared, even in prospect, a few years ago. Could 
we have foreseen it, when we parted in England, it 
would probably have prevented that separation. We*^ 
might often, if we could foresee events, provide 
against approaching evils ; but I believe it is right 
we should not, for though, our private happiness 
might have been promoted, yet our country would 
< 

* On the 20th of February, 1775, Lord Chatham had written to 
Lord Camden, "Everything but justice and reason will, I am per- 
suaded, prove vain to men like the Americans, with principles of 
right in their minds and hearts, and with arms in their hands to 
assert those principles." — IV. Chatham Correspondenrr, 40n. 



ESTHER REED. 229 

not have been benefitted, for at this thne she requires 
all her friends, and has a right to expect services 
from such heads and hearts, as can most conduce 
to her safety. We impatiently wait to hear what 
efiect the battle of Bunker's Hill has, both on our 
friends and enemies ; a few weeks, I suppose, will let 
us know. They had last Saturday (or rather Sun- 
day), week, a sort of skirmish ; a part of the American 
army advanced 260 yards nearer the enemy's lines, 
on Saturday evening ; the enemy either did not see 
them, or werie not prepared, as they did not begin to 
fire till 10 o'clock next day ; it continued very heavy 
all Sunday ; there were two of our common soldiers 
killed, and two wounded, one, a Pennsylvania vo- 
lunteer, which was all tte mischief done from 300 
cannon shot. This news you may depend upon, as 
I have it from head-quarters ; the cannonading had 
begun again when my letter came away ; if I hear 
anything further before I seal this, I will let you 
know; I am the more particular, because the news- 
papers are not always to be depended on as to par- 
ticulars, though true in general. I wrote Mr. Reed 
all the private intelligence. I am very glad Thom- 
son's affair is settled. The report, which I find is 
yet circulated in London, of the correspondence be- 
tween Mr. Reed and Lord Dartmouth, had not been 
20 



230 ESTHER REED. 

whispered in Philadelphia when I left it ; how it 
may be by this time, I don't know, but I am not 
very uneasy about it, as Mr. Reed losing his office 
is a pretty good proof the service, even supposing 
any, did not deserve a reward ; and the active and 
decisive part he has taken in public affairs, must re- 
move every doubt, even if there was any, in the 
minds of the people here. Indeed it would not be 
a trifle that could shake the confidence of his coun- 
trymen in him. I take it for granted, that I am 
writing to some curious person in office, and that my 
letter, insignificant as it is, will be opened before 
you get it.* One from Mr. Lane, Secretary of the 
Jersey Society, to Mr. Reed, came here with the 
seal quite broke, as if it was done on purpose to 
show they dare and would do it. I hope it is no 
treason to say I wish well to the cause of America, 
though such treason is not now thought much of. 
However, I am safe in telling you how much my love 
is kept alive, though at this distance, and with what 
undiminished affection I am, ever truly, 

Yours. 

No persons sign names now. Mamma is at Bur- 

* See note to p. 97, vol. i. Life of Reed. The correspondence 
with Lord Dartmouth is there published. 



ESTHER KEED. 231 

lington : has been a little unwell, but is now as well 
as usual. I have wrote in a great hurry, as I just 
heard of the opportunity. 

The next letter, wi-itten a day or two before her 
husband's return, has a most significant allusion — 
one of the earliest I know — to American Indepen- 
dence ; words which, as she says, " a twelvemonth 
before would have alarmed every person on the 
continent," — and no one can read these letters of 
an intelligent, kind-hearted Englishivomany whose 
love for her early home slowly and reluctantly faded 
away, without new and more contemptuous wonder 
at the dismal folly of the councils of the mother 
country, and, I am bound to say, the wilful infatu- 
ation of the people who thus threw away a loyal 
Colonial Empire.* 

* " The fact was," says a living British Statesman, speaking of 
these times, " the sovereign and the people were alike prejudiced, 
angry, and wilful." — Lord John Russell's Note to C. J. Fox's Cor- 
respondence, vol. i. I). 135. 



232 ESTHER REED. 

MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, October 28th, 1775. 

It is with particular pleasure I now sit down to 
write to my dear Dennis, as I am free from the 
fear of any prying intruder ; the thought that my 
late letters have been subjected to such curiosity 
has been a painful restraint upon me, and perhaps 
I have not been cautious enough in Avhat I have 
written, but so it is, and if I have committed treason, 
it must remain : however, as this will be delivered 
to you by your correspondent, Miss Watson, I trust 
it will come secure. I dare say my dear Dennis is 
very anxious to hear from us. I think it very 
probable you will hear from Mr. Eeed by this con- 
veyance, as I hope he will be in New York on his 
way home, and perhaps he may catch the opportu- 
nity as he passes. His service has proved of so 
much consequence in the councils at the Camp, that 
he has devoted himself to the service of the public, 
and I doubt not it will give him as much pleasure 
in the recollection as any occurrence in his life ; — 
indeed, my dear Dennis, the cause in which he is 
engaged is the cause of liberty and virtue, how 
much soever it may be branded by the names of 



ESTHEli REED. 233 

rebellion and treason. But I need not vindicate or 
explain the motives of our conduct to you. I think 
it must be plain to every person that thinks 
justly, and is unprejudiced : — but, my dear Dennis, 
what will be the event ? We have a powerful 
enemy to contend with, if they unite heartily 
against us, which I fear is but too likely ; — we long 
to hear from you, that some particulars may reach 
us which we may depend upon. I hope you will 
continue to write us as fully as you can on these 
important affairs. Everything that is dear to us is 
at stake. As to our private concerns, I have little 
to say. Mr. Eeed being from home, you cannot 
hear anything relative to Thomson, or any other 
matter. I suppose he will have a volume to write 
to you. I am as anxious to hear from you as to 
your intentions and views. I know it depends on 
circumstances on this side the water, but the present 
moment is such a state of suspense as well as con- 
fusion, that it is hardly possible to give an opinion : 
— the wisest are puzzled. I wish for my dear Mr. 
Reed, that I might consult him, and that you might 
have his judgment : as to trade, it hangs so uncer- 
tain, that we may in a few months trade with all 
the world on our own risk, or it may return to its 
former channel. It seems now to depend on the 

20* 



234 ESTHER KEED. 

reception of our last Petition from the Congress to 
the King ; if that should be so considered as to lay 
a foundation for negotiation, we may be again re- 
conciled, — if not, I imagine WE shall declare 
FOR Independence, and exert our utmost to defend 
ourselves.* This proposition would have alarmed 
almost e-^ry person on the Continent a twelvemonth 
ago, but now the general voice is, if the Ministry 
and Nation will drive us to it, we must do it, rather 
than submit, after so many public resolutions to the 
contrary. In this case, of course, no trade can be 
carried on between the two countries, and if you 
should determine to come and see us, it must either 
be with a design to take up your abode with us, and 
share our fate, or only to pay us a visit : — this last 
would be a painful pleasure, if I may use the ex- 
pression, as the thoughts of your leaving us after 
staying a little time, would mar the joy, and destroy 
the pleasure of our intercourse ; but if the other 
event should take place, and the unhappy breach 
should have an appearance of healing, your pros- 
pects will, I think, again be clear. Mr. Reed has 
not forgot you in your favourite prospect of an 

* Mrs. Adams's letter to her husband, in favour of indepen- 
dence, is of later date, — 12th November, 1775. — Mrs. Adams's 
Letters^ yo\. i, p. 79. 



ESTHER REED. 235 

Agency ; he has made interest with the Jersey 
Assembly, who meet next month, and if they ap- 
point an Agent, I dare say you will be the person. 
Mr. Kinsey thinks himself much obliged to you for 
your attention in sending him the pamphlets, etc., 
which have been of considerable use to him, and he 
says he hopes one day to have an opportunity of 
returning the favour. In trade, if there is any 
carried on, you will come in for a good share. Miss 
Watson intends returning again to this country, if 
times afford any prospect of mercantile connexion 
between America and England; and I imagine 
many other valuable correspondents might be 
formed on a better foundation than ever, but I am 
afraid the event of the present dispute will not be 
favourable to trade. Mamma, I suppose, has al- 
ready desired you to get lodgings for Miss Watson, 
and treat her with hospitality, whieh I dare say 
you will do. 

I have wrote you twice from Amboy, which I 
hope you will receive. My dear little girl, for 
whose health I went, has again recovered her usual 
health, but she is of so delicate a constitution, that 
she often droops and alarms me. My son Joseph 
and daughter Hetty are both well. Mamma keeps 
her health and spirits amazingly. Mr. Reed has 



236 ESTHER REED. 

recovered his by his journey to the Camp. Every- 
body tells me he is grown so fat I should hardly 
know him on his return, which I expect will be one 
day this week. He has been gone from home above 
four months ; his business has suffered not a little, 
but in such times like these every person must 
sacrifice something. Remember me most affection- 
ately to Mrs. Wood and her family, and to all 
friends that inquire after me. God grant us to see 
a happy end of these melancholy scenes, though I 
fear this is to be but the beginning of sorrows. 
Adieu, my dear Dennis, — think of us often ; re- 
member we are struggling for our liberties and 
everything that is dear to us in life. 

I am ever, most affectionately, 

Yours, 

E. Reed. 



237 



CHAPTER XIIL 



1776. 



Letter from London in 1775 — Mr. Reed's Repl^ — Li- 
dependence — Troops raised — Governor Franklin — 
Mrs. Reed's Letters continued — Progress of Resist- 
ance. 

Not very long after this letter was written, intel- 
ligence of a still more gloomy tenour was received 
from England ; for Mr. De Berdt, writing on tlie 
fourth of October, very clearly describes the state of 
feeling there. With this, I close the narrative of 
the year 1775, simply noting, that Mr. Reed returned 
from Camp a few days after the date of Mrs. Reed's 
letter in October. 

MR. DE BERDT TO MR. REED. 

London, October 4th, 1775. 

I received your letter, my dear friend, from the 
Camp, and was happy to find you in a post so 



238 ESTHER REED. 

honourable and, I hope, so safe. Peace is certainly 
the wish of every good man, and it is his duty to 
promote it, but there are times and seasons when 
passive obedience and non-resistance would be cri- 
minal. It is now the fashion of the times to call 
every staunch friend to civil and religious liberty 
Quidnuncs and Methodists. I confess there are 
many of each amongst us, and I dare say you are 
not without them ; but, my dear friend, there are 
such men as real patriots, and "vy;ho fear and love 
God above all things, and for such essential quali- 
ties are and ought to be highly valued and esteemed, 
and their principles adopted and supported. In 
spite of the mean resources of the Government, and 
breach of public faith in opening and reading let- 
ters, I will venture to write you my mind fully and 
freely, as this may be the last conveyance to you 
for many, many months — public notice having been 
given that this will be the last regular packet to 
America. Parliament meets on the 26th inst., and 
may perhaps take into consideration the last Peti- 
tion of the Congress ; but, I believe, a bloody cam- 
paign is intended the ensuing spring, and no plau- 
sible arguments ought to divert you from your plan 
of opposition, and I will tell you on what I ground 
my belief. The Ministry have adopted a plan on 



ESTHER REED. 239 

the success of which they stand or fall, and their 
reliances here are brave English soldiers, a powerful 
Navy, mercenary foreign troops, an approving nation, 
supporting its credit, keeping up its public funds, 
manufacturing towns fully employed, persuading 
the landed interests how much they will be eased 
of taxes by subduing America, and embracing every 
opportunity of conveying an idea to the world that 
you are rebels in thought, word, and deed, — that 
you are struggling for independence and to be free 
of all taxes, — in short, that you are wicked people, 
murdering the king's good subjects, scalping and 
abusing all those unhappy men that fall into your 
hands, etc., etc. As to the first dependence, on 
English soldiers, though all the world admit their 
bravery, still in this bad cause many doubt their 
fighting with zeal and usual intrepidity. Recruits 
are with difficulty raised, the men dishking the 
service. Every garrison is bare of men, and this 
day's paper says, out of forty officers draughted for 
Ireland, thirty-eight have resigned their commis- 
sions, though I fear this is too good news to be 
true. The power of the Navy is on all hands ad- 
mitted. Foreign troops may be hired to subdue 
you, but if ever they effect it, they will most pro- 
bably continue in the country, which is worthy of 



240 ESTHER REED. 

consideration. As yet, none are taken into pay. 
It is not easy to know the sense of the Nation, but, 
excepting those connected with the government, I 
believe the majority clearly for America. I suppose 
ten or twelve towns have addressed the king to pro- 
secute coercive measures towards America. Counter- 
petitions for different steps are begun by Bristol, 
etc., and at London this day, but the people in 
general are not sufficiently roused and alarmed at 
the state of the Nation. One-fourth may be said to 
be always on the side of Government ; one-fourth 
sunk in sensuality and pleasure ; one-fourth im- 
mersed in business ; and the remainder inattentive 
and indolent to all public matters, provided a griev- 
ance does not actually happen in their families or 
circles of acquaintance : but I am certain a few 
months will prove American consequence to this 
country', though the effects are more remote from 
the cause than any one could have thought. The 
landed interest in the House of Commons are made 
to believe that subduing America will relieve them 
of many burdens. 

The narrative of the next year (1776), the year 
when the bond of political union was at last sun- 
dered, cannot be better begun than by two let- 
tors, simultaneously written bv Mr. and Mrs. Reed 



ESTHER REED. 241 

to their brother in England. They speak for them- 
selves, and tell their tale of genuine feeling with 
simple energy. Mr. Reed's letter w'as not in my 
possession at the time his biography was published : 



MR. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, February 24th, 1776. 

This opportunity by Mr. Hartman presenting 
itself, I once more sit down to write you with some 
degree of freedom, as from his particular care of 
the letter, I hope it will get safely to your hand. 

You will doubtless wish to know not only how we 
do, but what our prospects are for the next sum- 
mer, — and I assure you they are melancholy enough. 
From the speeches in Parliament, and other public 
proceedings which we get by some means or another, 
there is very little prospect of peace, and all hope 
of accommodation seems to be given up. The Com- 
missioners, who are said to be coming, will meet a 
very cool reception, unless they bring other offers 
than those of pardon ; but it is so generally con- 
sidered as a scheme to divide us, that I believe the 
minds of the people of this country are very illy 
disposed to attend to or treat with them. The 
21 



242 esthp:ii reed. 

idea of Independence, which till the last session of 
Parliament was, I believe, sincerely disclaimed by 
a great majority of the inhabitants, gains ground 
daily as a measure of necessity, not of choice. Pub- 
lications are now freely made on this subject, which 
would have been universally reprobated a few 
months ago. The seizure of our ships, burning 
our towns, and cruelty to our prisoners, have made 
wonderful impressions on the minds of the people, 
and disposed them rather to submit to any hardship 
of war, or inconvenience of government, than be 
under that of the authors of such aggravated dis- 
tresses and calamities. New York is in a manner 
abandoned by all its inhabitants who are able to 
moVe. This city has such advantages of defence, 
and has made such preparations, that we hope and 
expect we shall be able to preserve it from the ruin 
which has fallen on its neighbours. No expense or 
trouble is spared for the purpose, but I make no 
doubt, in case of an alarm, which may be hourly and 
constantly expected, there would be great confusion. 
As it is, most of the families of any ability have 
provided themselves with retreats into the country, 
whither they will go as soon as the season opens the 
navigation generally. I propose to put your sister 
in the country with the family, for two reasons : — 



ESTHER REED. 243 

their safety, — and the saving of expense : for though 
business has not formally stopped here, as in the 
provinces, it is so dull, and every person of any 
consequence is so taken up with public matters, that 
there is little more time than opportunity to do any- 
thing. My own summer's destination is not yet 
fully determined. If I remain here, I shall be em- 
ployed in public concerns, and living on my little 
capital. I therefore rather incline to accept some 
office or post, where my services may perhaps 
be as useful, and receive some compensation, which, 
considering the demands of a growing family, it is 
my duty to attend to. At all events, I lay my ac- 
count with having the world to begin in a manner 
anew, in which I shall not be singular. But we 
have advanced too far in this dispute, to stop at 
considerations like these, and shall think it well lost 
if we preserve our country from tyranny and bond- 
age. We hear of great preparations with you : — 
ours are proportionate . There will be a very large 
Continental army this summer, besides provincial 
troops, backed by a militia under good regulations, 
and led by the gentlemen of the country. The 
foundation of a navy is laid, and there is a very 
good harmony among the provinces ; so that we flat- ' 
ter ourselves, except plundering the coast and per- 



24. i ESTHERREED. 

haps destroying some exposed seaport town, we shall 
be able successfully to oppose the force proposed to 
be sent against us. The Congress, about eight 
weeks ago, ordered nine battalions to be raised in 
this province and New Jersey. They are now com- 
plete, and some of the companies before Quebec by 
this time. By this, you may judge of the spirit and 
zeal of the people in the cause. Though our ex- 
pectations of ammunition have failed, from some 
places, yet, through the connivance of our good 
friends, the French, we have the materials for mak- 
ing 150 tons of gunpowder, besides small quantities 
daily arriving ; the high price tempting adventurers 
to run all risques. In all these respects we shall 
be better prepared this campaign than the last. I 
take for granted, that as soon as the seizure of our 
property abroad becomes general, the debts and 
property of the English merchants in this country 
will be seized and appropriated to the payment and 
satisfaction of the sufferers. The confusion and 
ruin that must ensue thereon you will be able to 
judge of better than I can. I am very glad you 
have so little here, though perhaps that little may be 
the greatest part of your property after satisfying 
your OAvn creditors. Goods are scarce and dear, 
but manufactures are increasing, and in case of an 



ESTHER REED. 245 

open trade, the advantages will doubtless tempt 
many to run the risque. 

By this opportunity, there are two letters from 
Mr. Kinsey to you, and a bundle of the laws and 
pamphlets of the last session of Assembly at Bur- 
lington. In "an intercepted letter of Governor 
Franklin, some time ago, to Lord Dartmouth, there 
was an account of your being chosen Agent, and 
that your merit was procuring, by some unfair means, 
copies of his letters and transmitting them to this/ 
country ; that he understood you had some share 
of his Lordship's confidence, which you abused, and 
he therefore cautioned him against you. As per- 
haps he may have wrote the same thing so as to 
reach Lord Dartmouth, it may be best for you to 
anticipate it, as it is false and groundless. I am 
^assured the letters you sent, were only the copies of 
the extracts laid before the House of Commons, and 
from which Almon's Register was composed ; and 
I am sure you have too much spirit and virtue to 
make any ill use of his Lordship's favour. These 
rascally governors stop at no falsehood or misre- 
presentation, but let fly their arrows in the dark, 
hoping to escape detection by the privacy and confi- 
dence of their correspondence. It would have been 
21* 



246 ESTHER REED. 

happy for both countries if we had hung them all 
years ago. 

Your sister, mother, and the children are all well. 
It is so seldom now they can convey their affec- 
tionate remembrance to you, that they do it with 
double pleasure. In which they are most sincerely 
joined by 

Dear Dennis, yours affectionately. 

MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, February 25th, 1776. 

How long is it, my dear Dennis, since we heard 
from you ? I am distressed in looking back to your 
last letter to find it five months since the date of it. 
Among the various distresses which the public cala- 
mities have brought upon us, surely, this is none of 
the least ; our friendly intercourse is interrupted in 
such a degree as to make us constantly uneasy as 
to your health and happiness, and perhaps while we 
are pleasing ourselves that you are enjoying both, 
scenes very different may attend you. At the best 
of times, the distance is so great as to make it an 
anxious situation, but now it is rendered doubly 
distressing. The health of my family is pretty 
well established. Mr. Reed, who was unwell in the 



ESTHER REED. 247 

summer, was perfectly recovered by his journey ; 
my children well except the eldest, whose constitu- 
tion is very delicate, and is often drooping. Our 
dear mother enjoys her health and spirits surpris- 
ingly, though she sometimes looks back to former 
times and her native land with a great desire to re- 
turn : — the public calamities we feel and bear, contri- 
bute much to this. Ours is indeed a land of trouble, 
and when it will cease, God only knows. Perhaps 
the propositions of peace which are to be sent will 
be such as we can honourably accept, — if so, our tran- 
quillity and happiness will be again restored. We 
understand pardons are to be distributed to the Re- 
bels^ and smile at the thought of a neighbouring Go- 
vernor giving them to his father and other relations.* 
I suppose they must be humbly asked. If these are 
the only terms that are offered, I fear they will not 
be accepted; for whether the people here are right 
or wrong, they think, instead of receiving pardon, 
they merit the applause of every friend to liberty 
and mankind : thus principled, it is hard they should 
be stigmatised with the names of rebels and leaders 
of factions, etc., and drove to the hard necessity of 
defending themselves at the hazard of their lives. 

* William Franklin, Dr. Franklin's natural son, was the very 
loyal Governor of New Jersey. 



248 ESTHER REED. 

And even supposing their liberties not in the danger 
they imagined, yet surely they have had some rea- 
son to be alarmed ; and to be watchful and attentive 
to so great an object is virtuous, and to defend it 
when they think it attacked is brave. But I dis- 
miss a subject on which I am much inclined to write, 
as it engrosses every heart and every tongue. 
What can I say about seeing you here ? — It must 
remain entirely with you : your business and other 
circumstances will determine you : our country has 
no inducements now. Mr. Hartman, who pre- 
sents this to you, you are already acquainted with 
by name and correspondence. He has been in a 
very bad state of health for some time past, and 
takes this voyage to England with a view of reco- 
vering it. My acquaintance with him is very slight, 
but those who know him intimately speak of him in 
terms which do him honour, and I make no doubt 
you will be pleased with his acquaintance. Mr. R. 
will write by him, so that I have nothing further to 
tell my dear Dennis, but that I feel more than com- 
mon pleasure, after so long a pause in our corre- 
spondence, in assuring you of my love, and subscrib- 
ing once more 

Your most affectionate.* 

* To neither of these letters are there any signatures. 



249 



CHAPTER Xiy. 

1776-1777. 

Campaign o/1776 and Invasion of New Jersey — Letter 
from Camp — British Atrocities — George III. and 
Lord North — Mrs. Reed^s Letters to England and to 
Camp — Washington' s Letter from Middle Brook. 

The year 1776, so fruitful in the great events 
of our American history, contributes few incidents 
to a merely personal narrative. Until June, Mrs. 
Reed's family was united; her husband being at 
home, and nothing occurring within the circle of a 
tranquil household that has interest even for the 
readers of a memoir like this. When Mr. Reed 
was with the army at New York as Adjutant- 
General, he probably destroyed his domestic corre- 
spondence, and I can only gather slight references 
to home matters from his almost daily letters, which 
have been already published. They show with what 



250 ESTHER REED. 

placid cheerfulness the youthful mother bore this 
long and anxious separation, and how well she 
played the hard part of a soldier's unrepining wife. 
Her residence, most of the time, was with her dear 
friend, Mrs. Cox, on the Green Bank at Burlington. 
She was, though in comparative seclusion, near 
enough to the scene of perplexity and confusion 
in Philadelphia, to be able to give her husband ac- 
curate information of what was doing and medi- 
tated. It was not the disturbance of ordinary 
politics, but a fierce contest as to popular rights, 
asserted resolutely, and hotly denied, — Revolu- 
tionary committees taking possession of political 
power by no gradual or gentle process, but forcibly 
and roughly, — regular authority, hallowed by some 
sort of prescription, struggling against the noisy 
pressure from without, — soldiers enlisting, forti- 
fications building, rumours of distant war, and 
the sound of hostile cannon close at their doors. 
Such was the scene in Philadelphia and its neigh- 
bourhood throughout the year 1776, and it would be 
very interesting to have it more fully illustrated. 
There are a few diaries of those times in existence 
which describe it very clearly. 

At last the storm of war began to thicken round 
this part of the Colonies. Early in November, the 



ESTHER REED. 251 

Britisli Generals, having driven the Americans into 
the upper part of New York island, showed a dis- 
position to move in a southwardly direction, and 
leaving Washington above them to cross the North 
River, and traversing New Jersey by forced marches 
to reach Philadelphia. Mrs. Reed was then residing 
at Burlington, in the house formerly occupied by 
Governor Franklin. To her, while there, the let- 
ters were written by her husband at Camp, which 
have been elsewhere pubhshed. I cannot refrain 
from inserting one, as painfully illustrative of these 
scenes of trial. 

It tells the tale of coming danger most distinctly. 

TO MRS. REED. 
Camp, near White Plains, November 6th, 177G. 

My Dearest Love, 

After I wrote my last, your favour of the 29th 
October unexpectedly came to hand. It was so 
long since I had heard from you that the pleasure 
I had in it was greater than usual. I can easily 
conceive, my dear creature, that your tenderness 
will suffer much from a view of the dangers and 
difficulties which await me, and which your love will 
probably aggravate beyond their real pitch. Be 



252 ESTHER REED. 

assured that you and the dear pledges of our love 
form a powerful restraint when I should otherwise be 
led to expose myself, and that I shall keep up the 
remembrance as a check. I do not blame you for a 
want of complete resignation. It is a lesson more 
easily given than practised, nor do I wonder that a 
view of your situation, in case of any accident to me, 
should give you cause for alarm. It forms a great 
part of my distress and anxiety ; for when I look 
round me, I see none but single or childless persons, 
and most of them of such fortune that their loss 
could only be lamented as dissolving the. ties of 
blood and friendship, but all the real wants of life 
would be supplied. We had passed the vale of 
adversity, and seemed just rising the opposite hill, 
when this torrent of calamity has swept us back ; 
but at this, I do not repine, if Providence spares us 
for each other. 

A new cause of alarm has risen since I wrote you 
last. The enemy, as we suppose, finding our army 
too advantageously posted to venture on an attack, 
the night before last began to move with all their 
baggage. Their course was towards the North 
River, which they still continue. Opinions here 
are various. Some think they are falling down 
upon Mount Washington, and after carrying that 



ESTHER REED. 253 

post to go into winter quarters. Others that they 
mean to take shipping on the North River, proceed 
up and fall upon our rear. Others, and a great ma- 
jority, think that finding this army too strongly 
posted, they have changed their whole plan, and are 
bending southward, intending to penetrate the 
Jerseys, and so move on to Philadelphia. A few 
hours must determine it. If the latter is the case, 
I presume a part of this army will pass over into the 
Jerseys. My heart melts within me at the thoughts 
of that fine country desolated, for it is of little con- 
sequence which army passes. It is equally destruc- 
tive to friend and foe. And when I consider your 
exposed situation in such case, I feel all the anxieties 
which love and friendship can excite. My own 
opinion is, that the season is too far advanced for 
any movement of consequence, but that it is pro- 
bable some excursions may be made to distress and 
alarm the inhabitants of Jersey, and revive the 
drooping spirits of their friends, which begin to sink 
at the prospect of the campaign closing without the 
entire 'conquest of the "rebels," as they term us. 
However, I may be mistaken, and probably am so, 
as I am almost singular in my opinion. 

The accident which happened in consequence of 
the express stopping to leave your letter, obliges 
22 



254 ESTHER REED. 

me to enclose this to Mr. Rush, who, I hope, will 
send it to you as soon as possible. I should be glad 
to know how the matter really happened ; for though 
neither you nor I are to blame, it tends to draw 
some reflections. Adieu, my dear creature ; let us 
keep up our spirits, hope for better and happier 
days, and live so as to deserve them. 

Yours, most aff'ectionately. 

Then began the darkest period of this seven 
years' war. Step by step, — the retreat beginning 
the day when Washington crossed the Hudson, — 
did the wasting army of the Americans retire before 
the confident advance of the enemy. Passing suc- 
cessively the Hackensack, the Passaic, and the 
Raritan, the invading troops, a mixed band of Eng- 
lish and Hessians, — the latter the objects of natural 
terror, — continued their onward course till every post 
on the left bank of the Delaware was in their pos- 
session. Count Donop, with a detachment of Hes- 
sian cavalry, had his head-quarters at Mount Holly ; 
his patrols entering Burlington the day affer Mrs. 
Reed and her family, all women and children, had 
fled for refuge to Evesham, then near the edge 
of the pine forests. There they remained till after 
the aff'air at Trenton, cut off from all communica- 



ESTHEll REED. 255 

tion with home, and literally in the possession of the 
enemy. The tradition of my family is, that at one 
time preparations were actually made, and the 
travelling equipage, — a plain wagon and horses, — 
prepared, in which the helpless fugitives were to be 
transported by some of the lower ferries across the 
Delaware, and thence onward to the Western settle- 
ments of Pennsylvania or Virginia. 

A better description of these scenes of terror will 
presently be given ; but, before I come to it, I can- 
not refrain from repeating here, — no truth-loving 
American wTiter should ever fail to do it, — the 
strongest words of condemnation on one and all, 
from the monarch on the throne, whose heart never 
knew a softening emotion to America, through 
the peers, and prelates, and ministerial commoners, 
who did his bloody bidding, for this campaign of 
horror. The more it is studied the worse it seems, 
and the memory of it, fresh to the student's mind, 
is enough to chill all thoughts of kindness to the 
England of that day. That a monarchy of Chris- 
tian pretensions, with its hierarchy professing peace 
and good-will to men, — for a majority of the Bishops 
voted for all the coercive measures of the Ministry, 
even for the employment of Hessians and Indians, — 
that any civilized government, at a day so recent as 



256 ESTHER REED. 

the middle of the eighteenth century, should thus 
conduct a war against its own kindred, Englishmen 
and women, is almost incredible. And yet it was so ; 
and I never think of George III., wandering blind 
and insane, a wretched, burthensome old man, — or 
his Minister (a far gentler, and wiser one), who 
carried on this war, also stricken with blindness, — 
without an irrepressible conviction of the awful 
penal justice even of this life, and that the blood 
and sorrow, the terror of the helpless, the agony 
of women fleeing from brutality, and of little 
children left fatherless and motherless, had its full 
and terrible expiation.* I write these words not 

* InBelfs Li^e of Canning, I find the following passage, " During 
the King's illness there were two topics for ever present to 
his distempered imagination — America and the Church. ' How 
can I,' he used to exclaim, ' I that am born a gentleman, ever lay 
my head on my pillow in peace and quiet as long as I remember 
my American Colonies V At another time he would mutter, ' I 
will remain true to the Church.' Then back again to America, 
and anon he would return to the Church ; and so swing back- 
wards and forwards between these two points of remorse, until 
they became an absolute part of his moral existence." — p. 179. 
Lord North's blind old age was serene and cheerful. There are 
in the Memorials of Mr. Fox, recently published and edited by 
Lord John Russell, two striking and painful illustrations of the 
King's violence of feeling towards his political opponents and the 



ESTHER HEED. 257 

to stimulate vulgar national antipathy, but as words 
of truth and history, which I should be false to my 
family records were I to suppress. That they are 
not too strong, may be seen in what was freshly 
written by one who was a fugitive from these bar- 
barities, — one who, till oppression alienated her 
aifections from her early home, was as loyal an 
Englishwoman as ever breathed. The two follow- 
ing letters have never been in print. They bear 
date, it will be seen, when prospects had become 

Americans. In a private letter to Lord North, in August, 1775, 
he says, " As to any gratitude to be expected from Lord Chatham 
or his family, the whole tenour of their lives has shown them void 
of that most honourable sentiment. But when decrepitude or death 
puis an end to him as a trumpet of sedition, I shall make no diffi- 
culty in placing the second son's name instead of the father's, and 
making his pension £3,000." In August, 1782, Mr. Fox, then 
Secretary of State, wrote to inquire the King's pleasure as to re- 
ceiving an accredited minister from the United States. The stub- 
born repugnance of George III., on this topic, is almost grotesquely 
shown in his reply. "As to the question whether I wish to re- 
ceive a minister from America, I certainly can never express its 
being agreeable to me; and, indeed, I should think it wisest for 
both parties to have only agents, who can settle any matter of 
commerce ; but, so far I cannot help adding, that I shall ever have 
a bad opinion of any Englishman who would accept of being an 
accredited minister from that revolted state, and which, certainly 
--^" for years, cannot establish a stable government." 

22* 



258 ESTHER KEED. 

brighter, and after the British troops, Hessians and 
all, had been, as it were by a miracle, driven back 
to the Hudson. 

MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

(Endorsed) March, 1777. 

An opportunity of writing to you, my dear 
Dennis, is now become so rare, that I could not 
think of letting this slip without sitting down to tell 
you our distresses. How shall I describe our situ- 
ation ! For some months past, your heart, I am 
sure, has already felt much for us. But you can- 
not form any adequate idea of the scenes we have 
passed. Thank God, our apprehensions and fears 
have not been altogether realized, but these were 
sufficient. But one day's escape from an army of 
foreigners, and for several weeks within a few hours 
march of them, and since they have been driven 
back we have understood they had planned a visit 
to our retreat. Nothing could be more distressing 
but the dreadful reality. But a kind and overruling 
Providence prevented us from these dangers we 
feared, and our retreat has been safe and comfort- 
able. Anything more we hardly dared to wish. 
Since the happy change in our affairs, we look back 



ESTHER REED. 259 

without regret on our past distresses, and trust to 
the same Almighty Power, which so evidently ap- 
peared then in our favour, to deliver us from the 
hand of oppression, which lately threatened to strike 
us to the dust. You will be surprised, I dare say, 
at the rapid and uninterrupted progress the enemy 
made through this Province ; but when I tell you 
the horrid blunder our rulers made, it will easily 
account for it. They enlisted their soldiers for a 
short time, — some four, some six months. The 
enemy, as might readily be supposed, were informed 
of this, and at the time our army was disbanding, 
and did not consist of three thousand men, they 
marched through and took possession of the Pro- 
vince. What has happened since, and the happy 
change, in which our arms have proved successful, 
you will hear from many quarters. Our prospects 
are brighter, our hopes are raised, our utmost 
efforts are existing, and we devoutly trust in the 
favour and assistance of the great Arbiter and 
Ruler of nations, who alone can give success to our 
arms and peace to our land. 

Our domestic affairs have another change, by the 
addition of a daughter, which happened just at the 
time my dear Mr. Reed was exposed to all the dan- 
gers and fatigues of a campaign. A kind Provi- 



260 ESTHER EEED. 

dence has preserved both our lives, and we are now 
enjoying a few weeks together in peace and safety; 
but it is not without many anxious fears for the 
future. I cannot forget to tell you that my dear 
Mr. Reed has had some very narrow escapes of his 
life — once by one of our own men, who was running 
away, and whom he ordered to return to his duty. 
The fellow presented his musket within half a yard 
of his head, but it happily missed fire. And another 
time, in an engagement near New York, his horse 
was shot under him. 

But, however great and complicated our difficul- 
ties and addresses have been, we have not been so 
fully taken up by them, but have truly and affec- 
tionately shared in your happier prospects, and are 
anxious to hear that your hopes and expectations, 
both in love and business, are answered. Adieu, 
adieu, my dear Dennis ; I know not when I shall 
have another opportunity of writing to you. You 
must embrace every one of writing to us. I need 
not tell you our dear mamma remembers you with 
the utmost tenderness, or that I am. 
With the sincerest affection. 

Ever yours, 

E. Reed. 



ESTIIEll KEED. 261 

The following letter, which at the publication of 
mj grandfather's Biography was not in my posses- 
sion, is, perhaps, as earnest and impressive as any 
one Mr. Reed ever wrote. It is stern in its tone, 
and breathes a spirit of strong and just resentment. 
It was written in entire confidence, but at the same 
time, no doubt, with a view to the possibility of its 
falling into the enemy's hands. 

MR. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia, February 23d, 1777. 

It is not one of the least misfortunes of these un- 
happy times in which our lot is cast, that the inter- 
course of the nearest relations and dearest friends 
is almost wholly interrupted. Except your last let- 
ter by Lord Howe, and your packet by Israel Mor- 
ris, we have heard nothing from you for almost 
twelve months. However, it is no small consola- 
tion for us to learn that your prospects of business 
are exceeding good, whilst ours are changed from 
the most prosperous to the most adverse. The war 
being brought to our own doors, and carried on with 
the most inhuman ravage, in which age and sex have 
indiscriminately suffered, has banished every thought 
of law, so that the profession, for which it has been 



262 E S T HER REE D. 

my earliest study to qualify myself, is become en- 
tirely useless. The family, as well for safety as 
economy, have been obliged to leave Philadelphia ; 
but, unluckily directing its course into the Jersey, 
which soon after the British and Hessian troops 
penetrated, your mother, and sister, and children* 
were again obliged to fly, and are now secluded 
from all society but among themselves, surrounded 
with woods and inhabitants of the common class of 
country people. I thank God they have as yet ex- 
perienced but little distress, but what arises from 
fatigue and apprehension. A party of the Hessian 
troops came into the town of Burlington the next 
day after they left, and afterwards were within 
three miles of their retreat. I have been plundered 
of everything they could carry away, and the de- 
struction of what they could not, would have been 
the least in sdch a case to be expected ; but, happily, 
the American arms at this crisis proved "successful. 
The enemy was obliged to evacuate this country, 
and peace and quiet have been restored ; but how 
long it will last none can tell but He who knows all 
things. 

* Mr. Reed, in his urgent letter to Washington of 22d .Decem- 
ber, 1776, spoke "of his wife and four children in the enemy's 
hands." — Life of Reed, vol. i. p. 273. 



ESTHER REED. 2G3 

Your letter by Lord Howe arrived before there 
had been any effusion of blood. It was wrote with 
a spirit and sentiment that would do you honour 
among the sensible and dispassionate. I was then 
with the army^ and, after showing it to the Gene- 
ral, I transmitted it to the Congress, but no notice 
was taken of it. I then waited impatiently for a 
public disclosure of some terms or propositions from 
Lord Howe and his brother. If they had been 
such as would give my country any security against 
the unlimited powers of your Parliament to deprive 
us of our property at any time, and in what pro- 
portion they pleased, I should have applied myself 
most earnestly to have brought about an accommo- 
dation ; and if those in power had wantonly or wick- 
edly rejected the proposition, I should have retired 
from the army to a private and obscure station. 
But no such proposition being ever made, the gene- 
ral professions of kindness and justice were pro- 
fusely given, and being well satisfied in my mind 
from a conversation I had with the Adjutant-Gene- 
ral of the British army, whom I conducted to and 
from an interview with General Washington, that 
the commissioners had no power to give liberty, 
peace, and safety to this country, I no longer hesi- 
tated about my duty, and continued with the army 



2G4 ESTHER REED. 

the whole campaign, and have been in every action 
except two which has happened during the whole 
summer. I thank God I have enjoyed uninter- 
rupted health, and met with no accident. But the 
office I held not being agreeable to me, and my 
duty — what I deemed my duty — having made me 
many enemies among the intractable and undisci- 
plined part of our army, I resolved to decline it 
when the campaign w^as over. In what line I shall 
hereafter move is very uncertain, but the dispute 
is now advanced to such a height, and the inhumanity 
with which it has been conducted by the British 
generals has created such, an inveteracy between 
the two countries, as no reconcilement can ever 
efface. The British Nation must receive its impres- 
sion from its officers and friends. They have injured 
us so highly by their ravages, cruelty, and insult 
that it is impossible they ever can forgive us, and 
there is no hatred so deadly as that of him who has 
injured another, and is conscious he can neither 
palliate nor redress it. The scenes of cruelty and 
desolation which my own eyes have beheld are be- 
yond description. The havoc which avarice, and 
lust, and w^antonness have made in this fine growing 
country will be remembered for ages, if its progress 
should cease to-morrow. The illiberal abuse of the 



ESTHER REED. !il)r) 

King and his Ministers I detest. A false ambition 
and a mistaken idea of the true interest of the na- 
tion have led them astray, but history shows us that 
this is no novelty. I fear national pride must also 
be taken into the account — that pride which, being 
transplanted to this country, shows our descent, and 
perhaps is not unjustly termed obstinacy. In this 
state of things, where can a man of honour and lover 
of his country set his foot — on the one hand unlimited 
submission, which scarcely leaves a shadow of liberty ; 
on the other, a dreadful opposition, subversion of 
every species of social and commercial happiness, 
and of which no end is yet to be seen. Those who 
prefer temporary ease and safety to essential lib- 
erty would find no difficulty in the choice ; but how 
can a man of honour, and who thinks himself bound 
to transmit to his posterity the blessings of liberty 
unimpaired, make the ignominious sacrifice ? 

Your mamma, sister, and the children are well. 
The former present their affectionate congratula- 
tions on your prospects, and join me in wishing you 
every happiness and success, both in love and busi- 
ness. The latter can only prattle about their uncle 
as a person of great consequence to us all, and 
especially their grandmamma. These times have 
made great inroads upon our family happiness, but 

23 



£00 ESTHER REED. 

we endeavour to bear them with as much cheerful- 
ness as we can. If it is possible for you to write to 
us through Mr. Ingersoll, who is in France, or if 
you direct your letters to a Mr. Ramsey, at Nantz, 
they will find a conveyance to me, if not intercepted 
on the road. Your own prudence will direct you 
not to write what may bring you into any difficulty. 
Adieu, my dear Dennis, 

Most affectionately yours. 

The seclusion of Mr. Reed's family "among 
woods, and with no companions but common coun- 
try people" was, I believe, at Norriton (now Nor- 
ristown), on or near the east bank of the Schuylkill 
River, about seventeen miles above Philadelphia. 
Thence, in June, 1777, Mrs. Reed writes the fol- 
lowing cheerful letter to be forwarded to Camp, the 
American head-quarters being at Middlebrook, and 
the hostile armies watching and impatiently skir- 
mishing with each other in the northeastern part of 
New Jersey. This letter, so perfectly character- 
istic of its writer, I cannot refrain from here repro- 
ducing. 



ESTHER REED. 267 



MRS. REED TO MR. REED. 

Norriton, June 21st, 1777. 

I have received both my dear friend's letters, one 
by Mr. Henry, the other by some other conveyance. 
They have contributed in a great degree to raise my 
spirits, which, though low enough yet, are much 
better than when you parted with me ; the reflec- 
tion, how much I pain you by my want of resolution, 
and the double distress I occasion you, when I 
ought to make your duty light as possible, would 
tend to distress my spirits, did I not consider, that 
the best and only amends is to endeavour to resume 
my former cheerfulness, and regain my usual spirits. 
I wish you to know, my dearest friend, that I have 
done this, as much as possible, and would beg you 
would free your mind from every care on this head. 
I must acknowledge the good news I gather from 
your letters, and other accounts, have contributed 
much to it, and especially the pause there seems to 
be in the approaching events, have given me time to 
recover myself — however, I wish you to know that 
I am well in health, and better in spirits than when 
you left me. 

Colonel Bayard dined with me yesterday, and the 



ZbQ ESTHER REED. 

ladies of the family. He hinted that you had some 
thoughts of coming up with him ; but at the same 
time dropped something, which made me think you 
had determined otherwise, from the pain you had at 
leaving home — though I made no reply, I felt the 
reflection, which you know must arise if I thought 
it was wrong. I would assure my dearest friend, 
of my utmost endeavour to conquer a w^eakness 
which I know gives him pain, and endeavour to sup- 
port my spirits, and acquire if possible, a new stock 
of resolution. I cannot bear the thought that any- 
thing on my part should ever, in the most distant 
manner, prevent you paying us a visit ; — but I will 
not say any more on this head, I know you want no 
inducement to return, or any assurances of the plea- 
sure it would give me. 

We go on pretty well in our country life, our hay 
was got in in very good time and order. Your son 
worked so violently at it the first day, that he quite 
knocked himself up — he was so thoroughly tired, 
that he slept the next day (only just getting up to 
eat a crust of bread) till 12 o'clock, and I was not 
able to prevail on him to go into the field again. 
There is a good cow to be sold in our neighbourhood, 
with a calf above a fortnight old ; the man asks XI 5 
for her, but from his manner, I imagine he will take 



ESTHER REED. . 269 

sometliing less. I will keep the matter in suspense 
until I hear from you ; he has agreed to wait till 
the middle of next week for my answer. I have 
also some thoughts of sowing a little flax ; our 
neighbours are going to sow some, and they tell me 
it often answers better than that sown in the spring. 
I think our landlord would let us have an acre, or 
half a one, of his plough land to sow it in ; but as I 
am not famous for making good bargains in things 
out of my sphere, I shall put it off as long as pos- 
sible, in hopes that you may be at home before it is 
too late — at least write me if you think I can have 
the seed. 

I thank you, my dear friend, for your attention in 
sending the newspapers, as also those things by Mr. 
Campbell's wagon, which came very safe. The old 
horse came up a few days ago, and seems to have 
little other complaint than poorness and hunger. 
I put the milk to the cask of wine as you di- 
rected. 

I am much pleased with your determination as to 
your line of conduct; the first, of being Adjutant- 
General to the mihtia, did not appear to me so clever. 
I wish I could find words sufficient to express how 
much I approve and admire your conduct, in which 
the tenderest regard for my happiness mingles with 
23* 



270 ESTHER REED. 

your disinterested exertions in your country's service, 
but I dare not say all I think, — I know you smile 
already at what you call my partiality, — but I know 
my dear friend will not wholly despise my praises. 

From what I gathered from Colonel Bayard, I 
imagine you will not go as far as head-quarters ; 
and also from his and your account of public affairs, 
General Armstrong will not be wanted immediately, 
if so, I shall hope to see you in a few days. This, 
with the uncertainty where to direct to you, has pre- 
vented me from sending the you mention ; I 

can send them any time when you want them, if you 
should not come home. 

Let Jack buy for me thirty pounds of starch. 
Mrs. Murdoch will tell him the name and place 
where she bought the last, it was of a Frenchman ; 
and also three or four small sized milk-pans. They 
can be lodged at Mr. Cox's, till an opportunity offers 
of sending them up here. 

We are all well, and join in the most earnest 
wishes for your return. — Adieu. 

I am, with the tenderest affection. 

Ever yours, 

E. Reed. 

This was about the time when Mr. Reed's plans, 
he having resigned his post as Adjutant-General 



ESTHER KEED. 271 

early in the spring, were undetermined, and it was 
equally uncertain in what quarter the coming cam- 
paign would be prosecuted. The British army were 
withdrawing their outposts from New Jersey, having 
no doubt in view southern military operations 
not yet developed or suspected, and the Americans 
were highly exhilarated at the appearance of driving 
the enemy out of the Jerseys, across the Hudson. 
It was at this juncture that General Washington 
wrote the following letter, urging anew on Mr. Reed 
the command of the cavalry, and expressing more 
strongly than ever his aifectionate esteem. It has 
never been published before. 

WASHINGTON TO REED. 

Middlebrook, Jan. 23d, 1777, 

Dear Sir, 

Your favours of the 12th and 18th inst. are both 
before me, and on two accounts have given me pain ; 
first, because I much wished to see you at the head 
of the Cavalry ; and, secondly, by refusing of it my 
arrangements have been a good deal disconcerted. 
As your notions for refusing the appointment are 
no doubt satisfactory to yourself, and your deter- 
mination fixed, it is unnecessary to enter upon a dis- 



272 ESTHER REED. 

ciission of the point. I can only add, I wish it had 
been otherwise, especially as I flatter myself, that 
my last would convince you, that you still held the 
same place in my affection that you ever did. If 
inclination, or a desire of rendering those aids to the 
service which your abilities enable you to do, should 
lead you to the Camp, it is unnecessary for me, I 
hope, to add that I should be extremely happy in 
seeing you one of my family, whilst you remain 
in it. 

The late coalition of parties in Pennsylvania is a 
most fortunate circumstance ; that, and the spirited 
manner in which the militia of this state turned 
out, upon the late manoeuvre of the enemy, has in 
my opinion given a greater shock to the enemy than 
any event which has happened in the course of this 
dispute, because it was altogether unexpected, and 
gave the decisive stroke to their enterprise on Phila- 
delphia. The hint you have given respecting the 
compliment due to the executive powers of Penn- 
sylvania I thank you for, but can assure you I gave 
General Mifflin no direction respecting the militia, 
that I did not conceive, nay, that I had not been 
told by Congress, he was vested with before ; for 
you must know that General Mifflin, at the particu- 
lar instance, and by a resolve of Congress, had been 



ESTHER REED. 273 

detained from his duty in this Camp near a month, 
to be in readiness to have out the militia, if occasion 
should require it, and only got here the day before 
I received such intelligence, as convinced me that 
the enemy were upon the point of moving ; in 
consequence of which I requested him to return, 
and without defining his duty, desired he would use 
his utmost endeavours to carry the designed opposi- 
tion into efi'ect ; conceiving that a previous plan 
had been laid by Congress, or the State of Pennsyl- 
vania, so far as respected the mode of drawing the 
militia out. The action of them afterward, circum- 
stances alone could direct. I did not pretend to give 
any order about it. 

It gives me pleasure to learn from your letter 
that the reasons assigned by me to General Arnold, 
for not attacking the enemy in their situation be- 
tween the Raritan and Millstone, met with the ap- 
probation of those who were acquainted with them. 
We have some amongst us, and I dare say Generals, 
who wish to make themselves popular at the expense 
of others, or who think the cause is not to be ad- 
vanced otherwise than by fighting — the peculiar 
circumstances under which it is to be done, and the 
consequences which may follow, are objects too 
trivial for their attention, — but as I have one great 



274 ESTHER KEED. 

end in view, I shall, maugre all the (illegible) of this 
kind, steadily pursue the means which in my judg- 
ment leads to the accomplishment of it, not doubting 
but that the candid part of mankind, if they are 
convinced of my integrity, will make proper allow- 
ance for my inexperience and frailties. I will agree 
to be loaded with all the obloquy they can bestow, if 
I commit a wilful error. 

If General Howe has not manoeuvred much deeper 
than most people seem disposed to think him capable 
of, his army is absolutely gone oif panic struck, but 
as I cannot persuade myself into a belief of the 
latter, notwithstanding it is the prevailing opinion of 
my officers. I cannot say that the move I am about 
to make towards Amboy accords altogether with my 
opinion, not that I am under any other apprehension 
than that of being obliged to lose ground again, 
which would indeed be no small misfortune, as the 
spirits of our troops and the country is greatly re- 
vived, (and I presume,) the enemy's not a little de- 
pressed, by their late retrograde motions. 

By some late accounts I fancy the British grena- 
diers got a pretty severe peppering yesterday by 
Morgan's Rifle Corps ; they fought, it seems, a 
considerable time within the distance of from twenty 
to forty yards, and from the concurring accounts of 



ESTHER REED. 275 

several of the officers, more than a hundred of them 
must have fallen. Had there not been some mis- 
take in point of time for marching the several bri- 
gades that were ordered upon that service, and 
particularly in delivering an order to General Var- 
num, I believe the rear of General Howe's troops 
might have been a little rougher handled than they 
were, for if an express who went to General Maxwell 
the evening before had reached him in time to co- 
operate upon the enemy's flank, for which purpose 
he was sent down the day before with a respectable 
force, very good consequences might have resulted 
from it ; however, it is too late to remedy these 
mistakes, and my paper tells me I can add no more 
than to assure you that 

I am, dear sir. 



\ Your affectionate, 



G^ Washington. 



276 



CHAPTER XV. 

1777-1778-1779. 

Campaign of 1777-8 — Conduct of the Enemy — A 
Loyalist's Diary — iltfrs. Reed at Novriton and Fle- 
mington — Her Letters — Mr. Reed's Letter to Mr. De 
Berdt — The British Commissioners — Evacuation of 
Philadelphia — State of Politics — Mr. Reed elected 
President of Pennsylvania — Letter to Mr. De Berdt — 
Arnold — Fort Wilson Riot. 

In the latter part of July, 1777, the British 
armj was embarked at New York, on an unknown 
and unsuspected destination, and on the 25th of 
August landed at the head of Elk, Washington, 
in the mean time, moving his troops Southward, 
utterly uncertain where the enemy would present 
itself.* During all this interval of suspense, Mrs. 

* In Horace Walpole's Letters to Lady Ossory, published in 
1848, there is a series of charming letters from Mr. — afterwards 



ESTHER REED. 277 

Reed and her family remained quietly at Nor- 
riton. On the 11th of September, 1777, the 
battle of Brandywine was fought, and Washing- 
ton defeated. Then followed the operations in 
Chester County, the massacre at the Paoli by^ 
General Grey's grenadiers, and finally the retreat 
of the Americans across the Schuylkill, and the fall 
of Philadelphia. It was not until the last moment 
that Mrs. Reed and her little ones, the enemy being 
almost in sight, were removed and hurried away in 
a wagon driven by a negro man across the country 
again to Burlington. After remaining there some 
time they w^ent — Mr. Reed continuing at the head- 
quarters of the American army near Philadelphia, 
and being in almost every aifair of consequence 
during the campaign, — for a short time back to 
Norriton, and afterwards, as a place of more 
secure retreat across the Delaware, to Flemington. 
From the former place the next letters w^ere written, 
— the enemy being in Philadelphia, and making their 
predatory excursions in the neighbourhood. 

It has been matter of controversy, even among 

General, — Fitzpatrick, who served throughout this campaign in 
Pennsylvania and Maryland. It is curious to observe the uncon!" 
trolled disgust which all the British officers of rank express with 
regard to the war in America. 

24 



278 ESTHER REED. 

English writers,* as to what extent of lawlessness 
existed and was countenanced by the British com- 
manding officers at this 'period of the war. My 
own impression, founded on a calm investigation of 
the matter, is, that the effort to check the troops, 
especially the foreign mercei^ries, was very unsuc- 
cessful. The word "rebels" had great significance, 
and all who bore that name were treated as beyond 
the pale of protection, so that, with all due allow- 
ance for the necessities of a beleaguered invading 
force, no great credit can be claimed for forbear- 
ance. I have now before me a very interesting diary 
of a respectable loyalist during the period when the 
British were here, and the contrast between the 
first and the last entries is very striking. It thus 
begins : 

" September 26th, 1777. About 11 o'clock, a.m., 
Lord Cornwallis, with his division of the British and 
auxiliary troops, amounting to about three thousand 
men, marched into this city, accompanied by Enoch 
Story, Joseph Galloway, Andrew Allen, William 
Allen and others, inhabitants of this city, to the 
great relief of the inhabitants who have too long 
suffered the yoke of arbitrary power, and who testi- 

* United Service Journal, November, 1852. 



ESTHER REED. 279 

fied their approbation of the arrival of the troops 
by the loudest acclamations of joy. I went with 

to Head Quarters to see his Excellency, 

General Sir William IJowe, but he being gone out, 
we had some conversation with the officers, who 
appeared well-disposed towards the peaceable inha- 
bitants, but most bitter against, and determined to 
pursue to the last extremity 'the army of the United 
States." 

Two months later the loyalist temper is sadly 
changed : 

" 22d November, the seventh day of the week. — 
This morning about 10 o'clock, the British set fire 
to Fair Hill mansion-house, Jonathan Mifflin's, and 
many others, amounting to eleven, besides outhouses, 
barns, etc. The reason they assign for this destruc- 
tion of their friends' property is on account of the 
Americans firing from these houses, and harassing 
them frequently. The generality of mankind being 
governed by their interest, it is reasonable to con- 
clude that men whose property is thus wantonly 
destroyed under a pretence of depriving their enemy 
of a means of annoying them on their march, will 
soon become enemies too. But what is most asto- 



280 ESTHER REED. 

nishing is their burning the furniture in some of 
these houses, belonging to friends of Government. 
Here is an instance that General Washington's 
army cannot be accused of. There is not one in- 
stance to be produced where they have wantonly 
burned and destroyed their friends' property. I 
went to the top of the steeple, and had a prospect 
of the fires."* 

I have made this incidental allusion to the state 
of things near and around Mr. Reed's once peaceful 
home, and now resume the correspondence. 

MRS. REED TO MRS. COX. 

Norriton, February 23d, 1775. 

My dear FRIEND : 

Expecting the pleasure of seeing Mr. Cox to- 
morrow, and wishing to enjoy as much of his com- 
pany as I can, I take this evening to write to you. 
I hear he has not immediately left, and therefore 
do not expect the pleasure of having a line from 
you. It is now very long since — but I know it is 
not easily accomplished, especially at this season — 

* MS. Diary. 



ESTHER REED. 281 

this season, which used to be long and tedious, has 
been to me swift, and no sooner come but near gone, 
not from the pleasure it has brought, but the fears 
of what is to come, and this on many accounts. 
Winter is now become the only season of peace and 
safety. Returning spring will, I fear, bring a return 
of bloodshed and destruction to our country. That 
it must do so to this part of it seems unavoidable, 
and how much of the distress we may feel before 
we are able to move from it, I can't say. I some- 
times fear a great deal. It has already become too 
dangerous for my dear Mr. Keed to be at home 
more than a day at a time, and that seldom and 
uncertain. Indeed, I am easiest when he is from 
home, as his being here brings danger with it. 
There are so many disaffected to the cause of this 
country, that they lie in wait for those who are 
active in it ; but I trust that the same kind pre- 
siding Power which has preserved him from the 
hands of his enemies, will yet do it.* Indeed, his 
life has had several remarkable escapes, one of 
which he was not apprised of, till a few days ago. 

Our acquaintance , who is not apt to be over 

attentive, having left his son at Germantown, about 

* See Christopher Marshall's Diary, October 4th, 1777. 
24* 



282 ESTHER KE ED. 

six weeks after the British troops had left it, wrote 
down from Lancaster to Mr. Reed, that he was very 
anxious for his account, and begged the favour of 
him to ride down and make some enquiries concern- 
ing him. His affection and relations to the child, 
made him undertake it, not without some little fear 
that the enemy might happen to come out that way 
— however, he went, found the boy in good health 
and spirits, wanting only a little hard money to 
purchase necessaries with. He supplied him and 
returned safely, but he has learned from some 
friends since, that the English light-horse were 
there at the very time. They had loitered at the 
lower end of the town for some hours, and were at 
the house he left, not five minutes after his depar- 
ture. As I know, my dear friend, you have an af- 
fection for each person concerned in this story, I 
will not make an apology for being so particular in 
the relation of it. . . Mr. Cox is at my side. I finish 
this morning, and I hope you will give consent to 
give him up for a little while to the public, who have 
great hopes and expectations from him. I must say, 
I hope you will have courage to resign him, espe- 
cially as his 'bffice does not expose him to danger of 
person, but, I can add no more, as I steal all the 



ESTHER REED. 283 

time from Mr. Cox's company, therefore, adieu. — 
Adieu, my love attends you all.* 
I am, 

Yours, affectionately, 

E. Reed. 

MRS. REED TO MRS. COX. 

(Without date.) 

How can I better employ a leisure hour than 
by writing to my dear friend, to whom I know it 
always gives pleasure to hear from me. I wrote 
you a few weeks ago, since which I have not had a 
word from you ; indeed, it adds not a little to the 
distresses of our days that we cannot mitigate the 
trouble of being separated from our friends, by a 
frequent and uninterrupted intercourse, but so it is, 
and we must submit. In my last I informed you 
of my situation, and how very low-spirited I was in 
consequence of it. I wish I could tell you now, 
that I had regained my spirits, and bore my troubles 
with a becoming temper of mind, but I confess I 
find the greatest relief in chasing away all thoughts 

* Colonel Cox was appointed Deputy Quarter-master general 
to General Greene. His associate was Mr. Reed's brother-in-law, 
Charles Pettit. 



284 ESTHER REED. 

of what is before me. A thousand times I blame 
myself for my discontent, and yet I am not able 
wholly to overcome it. The fears of my approach- 
ing hour, sometimes so depress me, that my whole 
fortitude avails me nothing. You will not w^onder so 
much at this, when I tell you that I must be entirely 
in the hands of strangers, nor know I what assistance 
to procure. Distressing as my situation is, yet 
when compared to some others, it is not to be men- 
tioned. Our neighbourhood has lately afforded a 
scene of trouble, the reflection on which in some de- 
gree, silenced my murmurings, and made me thank- 
ful, instead of repining that everything is not exactly 
as I wish. Our neighbour B. Marshall (I don't 
know whether you know him), died last week of a 
fever, leaving a widow and three children. I have 
not yet visited the house of sorrow, but shall, as 
soon as the weather permits. 

During all these eventful scenes — for nearly two 
years — all correspondence with Mrs. Reed's family 
in England had been interrupted, the last letter 
from Mr. De Berdt, being the one sent by Lord 
Howe in 1776. Among the papers which I have 
recently been so fortunate as to recover, I find the 
following from Mr. Reed, which recapitulates the 



ESTHER R E E D. 285 

incidents of that interval, and describes his public 
and domestic situation. 

MR. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Flemington, May 24th, 1778. 

Dear Dennis, 

It is now almost two years since we have heard 
from you, and you will easily suppose, so long a 
silence must have been extremely painful to friends, 
who love and value you so much. I can hardly think 
but that you must have wrote by some of the cir- 
cuitous conveyances to this country, but they have 
not been among the fortunate dispatches which have 
escaped. You cannot conceive how anxious we are 
to hear of your health and situation, in these tumul- 
tous times, and beg you would write either to Phila- 
delphia or New York,-— if to the former, under cover 
to John Potts, Esq., — to the latter, under cover to 
John Foxcroft, Esq., — leaving your letter open. It 
is needless to add, because your' own prudence will 
suggest, that any politics or public occurrences, will 
be improper. Or perhaps enclosing it, with a few 
lines to Colonel Patterson, Adjutant-General of the 
British Army, will be as safe a mode as any. We 
have met upon public business, since this unhappy 



286 E .•r^ T H E 11 K E E D. 

dispute, and from his known politeness, as well as 
professions, I have no doubt he would forward it to 
General Washington's head-quarters, where it would 
find me, or would soon be forwarded to me."^ 

You will now, I suppose, be impatient to know 
how friends so near and dear to you, have fared in 
a scene so new, as living in the very seat of war. 
And first of your mother and sister — they are both 
Avell, and have preserved their health and spirits 
most admirably, in such trying times. We have been 
obliged to move four times ; and had our house once 
plundered by the enemy ; but our losses have been 
much less than could have been supposed, our valu- 
able effects having been chiefly removed in time, or 
lodged in places of security. We lost a fine little 
girl near two years old, about a fortnight ago, but 
your sister made me a present of a fine boy the day 
before, whom we propose to call after you, so that 
we shall have something to remind us of you, con- 
tinually, if we were disposed to forget you, which, 
I will believe you will hardly suppose to be the case. 
We have now two boys, and two girls, and are in- 

* Colonel Patterson, was the otHcer with whom Mr. Reed had 
the interesting interview in July, 1776, on New York Island, in 
relation to the correspondence between Lord Howe and General 
Washington. — (Reed's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 204.) 



ESTHER REED. 287 

deed as happy in our family as the times will admit. 
We have now, to be out of all alarm and danger, 
got to this place, which is about forty miles from 
Philadelphia, with the river Delaware between us 
and the contending armies, where we propose to re- 
main till the situation of affairs, will permit us to 
return to our old habitation. You will easily suppose 
that a change from a city to the country, and that, 
so far back, and without any previous preparations, 
must have been attended with many wants and in- 
conveniences ; it has so ; but they have been borne 
with equal patience and fortitude ; and we have 
found that life may be very comfortable, and even 
pleasant, without many of those things which we 
mistakingly call not only comforts but necessaries. 
The self denial and perseverance of the inhabitants 
of this country, will do them honour at a future 
day, when the animosity which now^ subsists is done 
away. As to myself — having early entered the army 
I continued in it, and with it till very lately. The 
summer of 1776, and till spring 1777 I acted as 
Adjutant-general, but finding that post too fatiguing 
and irksome, with continual new troops, I resigned 
it, and was appointed to the command of the horse, 
which was to be augmented to 3000, but some pro- 
motions having been made prejudicial to my claims, 



288 E H T H E R REED. 

and other circumstances intervening, I did not ac- 
cept it, but continued with the General all the last 
campaign, and was in every action of any conse- 
quence. I have happily escaped hitherto, though 
deaths were multiplied around me. I have had two 
horses killed under me in the course of the war, and 
the last time (last November), narrowly missed being 
taken prisoner. Your sister (though she has sup- 
ported this, as well as everything else, with great 
firmness), is so much affected at the risk of a mili- 
tary life, that last fall I accepted a seat in Congress, 
to which I had long been solicited ; in which capa- 
city I now am — but as I am again very strongly 
urged to take the command of the Cavalry, I do not 
know but I may take the field again this summer — 
if some measures cannot be taken to stop the effu- 
sioia of human blood, and if not heal, at least close 
these wounds which , I forbear least my resent- 
ment should get the better of my prudence, and I 
should speak disrespectfully of those whom you, or 
at least the nation to which you belong have in- 
vested with power and authority. 

I have wrote you frequently by way of France — 
once by my youngest brother, who went from Ame- 
rica a year ago, and of whom I have never heard 
since — he had direction if he went to England, to 



ESTHER REED. 289 

make himself known to you, but I fear some acci- 
dent has befallen him. The opportunity waits, so 
that I have only to say one thing more, and then 
conclude. Your mamma and sister join me in urg- 
ing you to write by every possible conveyance. 
We have heard, but in a very distant, indirect mode, 
that finding it not good to be alone, you had pre- 
vailed on some fair one to gild the scene a little, and 
chase away the solitary cares of the bachelor — but 
her name, connexions, &c., we have not been able to 
learn. We should fail in our love and regard to 
you, if we had not some anxiety in so interesting 
a scene. Were we sure of it, Hetty would have 
wrote to the fair unknown at a venture, but defers 
it till she is in a better condition, and is sure she 
has such a relation. In the meantime, if it be so, 
w^e charge you with our kindest regards and ten- 
derest wishes to her, and beg you both to accept our 
late, but not less affectionate congratulations. 
Adieu — you know my hand. 

Yours, most truly and affectionately. 

Soon after the date of this letter, intelligence 

was received from Mr. De Berdt, in a letter 

brought by Governor Johnstone, one of the British 

Commissioners of 1778, whose fruitless attempts 

25 



290 ESTHER REED. 

at conciliation are well known to the student 
of history, and have been elsewhere illustrated in 
detail. Mrs. Reed refers to this introduction in a 
letter, written about this time, from Flemington to 
Mrs. Cox.* One of her infant children had just 
died of the small-pox. 

MRS. REED TO MRS. COX. 

Flemington, June 16th, 1778. 

" I was intending to sit down and write to you 
the very time I received yom- kind, .acceptable let- 
ter, truly welcome in the sympathizing words of my 
dear friend, — much do I stand in need of them ; the 
loss I have sustained in my little circle I find sits 
very heavy upon me, and I find, by experience, how 
hard a task it is to be resigned. Therefore I must 
make yet larger demands on you, and beg you will 

* Each on? of the Commissioners, except Lord Carlisle, was 
provided with private letters of introduction to leading Whigs 
in America. Beside those to Reed, and Laurens, and Mor- 
ris, Washington received two, which have lately (1853) been 
published in Mr. Sparks's letters to Washington, one in advance of 
the commision, from the Rev. Andrew Burnaby,and one from Ex- 
Governor Eden, introducing his brother William Eden, afterwards 
Lord Auckland. — Sparks's Letters to Washington, vol. ii. pp. 
100,108. 



ESTHER REED. 291 

continue to apply every argument which will tend 
to make me more perfectly acquiesce in the Divine 
pleasure, concerning me and mine. • Surely my 
affliction had its aggravation, and I cannot help re- 
flecting on my neglect of my dear lost child. Too 
thoughtful and attentive to my own situation, I did 
not take the necessary precaution to prevent that 
fatal disorder when it was in my power. Surely, 
my dear friend, I ought to take blame to myself. 
I would not do it to aggravate my sorrow, but to 
learn a lesson of humility, and more caution and 
prudence in future. Would to God I could learn 
every lesson intended by the stroke. I think some- 
times of my loss with composure, acknowledging 
the wisdom, right, even the kindness of the dispen- 
sation. Again I find it overcome me, and strike to 
the very bottom of my heart, and tell me the work 
is not yet finished, I've much yet to do ; assist me, 
therefore, my dear friend, with your counsels, and 
teach me to say, that God does all things well. 
But I will not trespass longer on your friendship, 
but turn my thoughts and yours to more pleasant 
scenes, for God has given, as well as taken away, 
and the loss of one should not make me unmindful 
of the blessings I have left, and those newly given. 
'^I am pretty well recovered, but my strength 



292 E 8 T Jl E K REE D. 

not SO much recruited as usual in the same time. 
My dear little boy grows very fast ; his name is 
Dennis De Berdt ; he has as few complaints as any 
child of his age I ever saw ; my fresh duty to him 
greatly tends to relieve my thoughts, and divert my 
too melancholy reflections."^ 

'' I know it will give you pleasure, my dear friend, 
to hear that we have late letters from my brother. 
Governor Johnstone, one of the Commissioners, 
brought them. They bring the most agreeable 
tidings from him ; he has married a very amiable 
woman with a large fortune, from whom also both 
mamma and myself had letters. She was so near 
lying in, that I suppose his son or daughter is just 
the age of my child. It seems to have renewed 
mamma's spirits exceedingly, and given me double 
pleasure on that account ; they both give her a kind 
invitation to come to England, which she enjoys 
very much, though I believe without the thought of 
accepting. Yet I can easily judge how very pleas- 
ing it must be to her. * * 

" How earnestly do I wish that I could see you ; 
can I have no hope this summer that you will come ? 
must you ever be so croAvded w^ith business ? For 

* Mr. Reed's second son, born at Flemington, 12th May, 1778, 
died at sea on his voyage from Batavia, 6th February, 1805. 



ESTHER REED. 293 

myself it is not practicable ; the length of the jour- 
ney and my incumbrances forbid the thought, but I 
can't give up the expectation of seeing you here. 
Yourself and Miss Rachel, if not both at one time, 
yet separately, might favour me. I am very lonely 
here : this would induce you for my sake ; that the 
part of the country is new and would vary the scene 
for Miss Rachel, might be another motive for her. 
I think I will be very angry if you disappoint me." 

July 6th. — '^ Thus far had I written, as you will 
see by the date, three weeks ago, and have had no 
opportunity of sending it to you. I had some 
doubts whether to send it or write anew, but as my 
mind is not altered, and still stands in need of your 
kind and consoling advice, I venture this trespass 
on your friendship, as I find it the most softening 
and healing to my heart ; but my grief shall not be 
now renewed, but stand far off while I congratulate 
you on the possession of our city once more. You 
have been to visit it, I hear ; for my part, I do not 
expect to see it for some time yet ; the cool weather 
must arrive before I can think of it. I hope when 
I hear from you, you will tell me who and what you 
saw, and how your Tory acquaintance behaved. 
Methinks one would be almost tempted to pity 
26* 



294 ESTHER REED. 

them. At a distance, I cannot feel much for them, 
but some particular scenes of separation, I dare say, 
mus^.be very distressing. I must also congratulate 
you on our success at Monmouth, and that our 
state is free from our cruel enemy. You will, I 
am sure, my dear friend, congratulate me, when I 
tell you that my dear Mr. Reed was in the action, 
and had his horse again shot ; this is the third time 
the same circumstance has happened, and himself 
unhurt. 

" ' When all thy mercies, O my God, 

My rising, soul surveys; 
Transported with the view, I'm lost 

In wonder, love, and praise.' 

The mercy of a kind Providence ought to make me 
ashamed of my unsubmissive and unresigned temper 
to my late loss. I will try to act 'and think pro- 
perly. 

^^ As I find you are likely to come to Burlington, 
I have great hopes of seeing you here ; do let me 
have a line from you ; a line, did I say ? do not put 
me off so, but write me a long letter. Do not en- 
deavour to shorten my entertainment ; I have very 
few here to hold conversation with." 

After the evacuation of Philadelphia, some time 



ESTHER REED. 295 

in August, the military operations in New Jersey 
having intervened, Mrs. Reed was enabled, with 
her family, to return to her home, whence she jaever 
aorain was exiled. Purine^ that summer her husband 
remained in Congress, occasionally visiting Camp 
as one of a committee of that body ; and in Decem- 
ber, 1778, was elected President of the Executive 
Council of the State of Pennsylvania. From this 
time forward, Mrs. Reed's life was comparatively 
peaceful — or, at least so far so, that no actual war- 
fare disturbed her home, and that her husband's 
duties were those which involved no extreme per- 
sonal hazard. Hers, however, even then, was the 
duty of sustaining and consoling him in hours of 
anxiety, to which, in point of intensity, the perils 
of actual warfare were preferable — the anxiety of 
civil administration, perplexed and threatened by 
faction, and the most malignant party spirit. The 
years 1778 and 1779 were the years of Mr. Reed's 
public life fullest of cares and heavy responsibilities. 
I never read the record of them, without the strong- 
est feelings of resentment at the unscrupulous oppo- 
sition which was directed against him. The pseudo- 
aristocraay of Philadelphia society — a remnant of 
proprietary prejudice and actual disloyalty ferment- 
ing in the whole mass — seemed bitterly intolerant to 



290 ESTHER REED. 

those who were honestly striving to make the re- 
publican system work well. It is not easy to realize 
it, but it is nevertheless true, that a man like Ar- 
nold — so gross in his habits, so ruffian-like in his 
temper, so utterly unprincipled, as the event showed, 
in every relation — should have been petted and pa- 
tronised in the patrician circles of Philadelphia — 
his chief merit seeming to be his inexorable hatred 
to President Reed and the patriot party ; and, in- 
deed, so cherished, that he was able to drag down 
to the level of his own ultimate degradation one of 
the most beautiful and accomplished of the Phila- 
delphia high-born ladies. Yet so w^e know it was. 
In the height of all this party turmoil, to which the 
peaceful politics of our own times have no resem- 
blance, Mrs. Reed, in the pure enjoyment of her 
home circle, was tranquil and contented. 

MRS. REED TO MR. DE BERDT. 

Philadelphia. September 16th, 1779, 

I need not say, my dear brother, that it is with 
the utmost pleasure that I embrace an opportunity, 
which I think will be safe and speedy, of once more 
writing to you. Alas ! will these impediments to 
our affectionate intercourse never be removed? 



ESTHER REED. 297 

When I look back to our early life, our days which 
we spent under the same roof, it gives an additional 
pain to the present separation ; but I will not take 
up a time so precious as the present in giving a 
gloomy cast to our situation, since it will bear an- 
other aspect, for, after danger's past, how sweet is 
safety and peace — peace, I mean, as to own dwell- 
ing; and we are no longer obliged to leave our 
houses, or stay there with constant dread and ap- 
prehension. These are now past, I hope never to 
return. 

It is now so long since I have heard from you, 
that I begin to be very anxious to receive some 
tidings from you and yours. Your dear Mrs. De 
Berdt and your daughter — are they well? I was 
going to say, you know not how much I long to see 
them ; but I am sure you do. From the desires and 
wishes of your own heart you will judge of mine, 
and express to them, my dear brother, how much 
they share my love and esteem ; for, though 
strangers yet to their persons, they are not strangers 
in my heart and affections. My family are all well. 
Mr. Reed is as much engaged as ever, though in a 
different and more important station. A thousand 
circumstances I long to write you, but every part 
of our life is so entwined with politics, that I must 



298 ESTHER HEED. 

pass them altogether. Our dear mother is well; 
her health and spirits are to me both pleasure and 
wonder. She talks of you more than ever, and I 
cannot help hoping she will one day have the plea- 
sure of seeing you — that would complete her earthly 
wishes — and, separate from our own pleasure, how 
truly should we participate here on such an occasion. 
I hope nothing has happened to alter your wishes 
with respect to a voyage. Everything adds to 
mine. This country must soon be desirable. If 
peace did but spread her olive on our shores, we 
might vie with any part of the world, and this, 
I hope, is not far off. I know your turn of mind so 
well, that I do not imagine you would be pleased 
with it at first ; but I think after a little time, when 
some of the pleasures and refinements of London 
wore off, you would find yourself and family 
extremely happy here. I dwell upoi> this prospect 
and often realize it in my own mind, and enjoy in 
hope what I trust I shall one day experience. I 
wrote you, my dear brother, a few months ago, 
and by the time I thought you had received it, it 
was brought back to me ; but another opportunity 
offered and it was again sent, though it is to me very 
doubtful whether it will ever reach you. I hope you 
will be able to let us hear from you, and when 



ESTHER REED. 299 

you write, tell us every particular that relates to 
your happiness. It will be important to us ; for, 
however long the separation and great the distance, 
my heart feels all the warmth and tenderness of 
affection as in our youngest days, and I must ever 
be truly and sincerely yours, 

E. R. 

On the 4th of October, 1779, the party feeling in 
Philadelphia, to which I have referred, broke out in 
acts of violence and bloodshed. A number of gen- 
tlemen of distinguished position, but who had 
rendered themselves obnoxious to some portions of 
the popular party, were literally beseiged by an 
armed mob in the house of one of their number, 
and only escaped with their lives, in consequence of 
the interposition of the President, who accompanied 
by a few volunteer cavalry rescued them. This was 
what is well known in Philadelphia history as the 
affair of Fort Wilson, the scene of the tumult being 
the house occupied by Judge Wilson, then at the 
southwest corner of Third and Walnut Streets. The 
following hurried note, written from a country-seat 
near the city, shows the alarm which prevailed 
everywhere in this worst scene of social strife. It 
is a note from Mrs. Reed to a friend in .town. 



300 ESTHER REED. 

Germantown, Wednesday morning, October 5tli, 1779. 

I would not, mj dear sir, take a moment of your 
time to tell you the distress and anxiety I feel, but 
only to beg you to let me know in what state things 
are, and what is likely to be the consequence. I 
write not to Mr. Reed, because I know he is not in 
a situation to attend to me at present. Mr. Pettit 
will lend a servant and a horse to come up here. I 
conjure you by the friendship you have for Mr. 
Reed don't leave him. 

E. R. 

The narrative of these scenes of confusion and 
perplexity has been elsewhere given, and my pri- 
vate memoir would lose whatever merit its personal 
character affords, if I were more minutely to illus- 
trate public events. The history of President 
Reed's administration, with its endurances, its sacri- 
fices, and its results, by-and-bye, when our local 
story becomes classic, will be full of interest. With 
the exception of a letter or two from him to his 
friend, General Greene, never yet published, and 
which are very interesting, there will be found little 
further reference to public affairs. 



301 



CHAPTER XVI. 

1780. 

Heed's Letter to Greene in February — Birth of Mrs. 
Reed's youngest son — March of the Philadelphia 
Troops to Trenton — Mrs. Reed' s Letters — Philadelphia 
Contributions — Lafayette — Correspondence with Wash- 
ington — 3Irs. Reed's last Letters — Correspondence with 
Greene — Mrs. Reed's Illness and Death — Conclusion. 

My story is hastening to its end, the next year, 
1780, being the last of Mrs. Reed's brief and, (let 
me be excused if the phrase seems an exaggera- 
tion,) heroic life. It was a year of deep gloom in 
public affairs. The following letter gives some 
glimpse of these perplexities. 

REED TO GENERAL GREENE. 

Philadelphia, February 14th, 1780.* 

Dear Sir: 

Your favour of the 9th inst. is now before me. 

* This, aiid an equally interesting letter of a later date, were 
Rccidentaily omitted in Mr. Reed's Memoir. 
26 



302 ESTHER REED. 

I had neither forgot nor neglected my promise when 
I had the pleasure of seeing you, but was prevented 
by two reasons : — first, that I really could not find 
out what was doing at the civil Head-Quarters with 
suificient certainty ; and secondly, that I expected 
you daily in town. I am almost afraid to commit 
to paper my full and undisguised sentiments on the 
present state of afiairs, with which you are so spe- 
cially connected. So many accidents have, in the 
course of this war, happened from epistolary free- 
doms, that I have grown very fearful of trusting 
anything in so hazardous a channel. However, I 
will venture to tell you that I think you have nothing 
to expect from public gratitude or personal attention, 
and that you will do well to prepare yourself at all 
points for events. General Mifflin's appointment to 
his present ofiice, without including the heads of 
the Department, is a sufficient comment on my text, 
and by your letter, I find you understand it as I do. 
I have had some experience of that body with whom 
your principal concern lay, and am clearly of opi- 
nion that more is to be done by resolution and firm- 
ness than temporizing. All public bodies seem to 
me to act in manner, which, if they were individuals, 
they would be kicked out of company for, and the 
higher they are, the greater liberties they take. In 



ESTHER REED. 303 

my opinion you ought not to delay an explanation 
on your affairs ; if a tub is wanted to the whale you 
are likely to be it as any. A torrent of abuse was 
poured on Wadsworth, but that has all died away ; 
as all ill-grounded and unjust calumny ever will. I 
think he was a valuable officer, and wish they may 
not feel his loss. Your particular situation will 
enable you to leave the Department not only without 
discredit, but your station in the line will preserve 
a certain respect which in other circumstances might 
be wanting. Whoever is quartermaster this year 
must work, if not miracles, at least something very 
near it, for I verily believe there will not be shil- 
lings where pounds are wanted. In all my acquain- 
tance with public affairs, I never saw so complete a 
mystery — a vigorous campaign to be undertaken, 
an army of 35,000 men to be raised, fed, &c., and 
not one single step taken, that I can learn, which 
will raise our drooping credit, gratify the people, or 
even conciliate a common confidence. A new 
arrangement of the army and reduction of officers 
is now talked of, with as much composure as if it 
was a common business — little do they know the 
delicacy and difficulty of such a work. Nothing 
can rouse us from this lethargy but some signal 
stroke from the enemy, and I shall not be sorry to 



804 Et^ Til Ell KEED. 

find them set about it ; as I am persuaded we are 
sliding into ruin much faster than we ever rose from 
its borders. Whatever jou do or resolve must be 
done soon, or jou will be plunged into another cam- 
paign without any possibility of retreat, and though 
the circumstance I have above alluded to is a 
favourable one, it is impossible to envy your situa- 
tion ; for whether you move or stand still, it may 
be improved to your disadvantage. If you quit 
they will say, that having made a great fortune you 
leave the Department in distress, when you could be 
of most service to your country. If you stand fast 
you become, responsible for measures and events 
morally impracticable. If an honourable retreat 
can be affected, it is beyond doubt your wisest and 
safest course ; but I am not certain that this can be 
done even now, and every hour adds to the difficulty. 
Your Department, as I have ever told Mr. Pettit, 
must bear some just censure for the appointments in 
this state, and they are now used, as I expected 
they some day would be, to its prejudice. When 
such men as Hooper, Ross, Mitchell,^ etc., make 
such display of fortune, it is impossible to help look- 
ing back, and equally impossible for a people, 
soured by taxes and the continuance of the war, 
to help fretting ; and the genei:al ill-temper gives 



ESTHER REED. 305 

great latitude to thought and speech. When things 
go wrong, no matter where the wrong bias is given 
every one concerned finds a pleasure in shifting 
the blame on his neighbours or at least in dividing 
it. It would never surprise me, therefore, to see a 
Quartermaster or Commissary-General made the 
political scapegoat, and carry off the sins, if not of 
the people, of those who represent them. Upon 
the whole, I still retain my opinion of the propriety 
of your being here as soon as possible, and in the 
meantime can only inform you of two things with 
certainty: — 1st, that the plan of the Department 
will be altered as to commissions ; 2d, that nothing 
but necessity will induce them to continue the 
present Department, for though it may have a great 
deal of the utile, it has little of the dulce in the 
palate of Congress. But you will be drilled on till 
the campaign opens, and, if they can do no better 
they may keep you. In this as well as everything 
else much will be left to the chapter of accidents. 

The Confederacy with her cargo of ministers, etc., 
has met with a severe gale of wind and been obliged 
to put into Martinique in distress. Our good and 
great ally has met with a little touch in the West 
Indies, fourteen merchantmen, part of a fleet bound 
to Jamaica, and on6 frigate taken, the rest dispersed 

26* 



306 ESTHER REED. 

by six of the enemy's ships. No appearance of 
peace ; on the other hand, great preparations for a 
vigorous campaign both by sea and land. The min- 
ister here hints that Great Britain has formed some 
favourable alliances, but whether this is done to 
stimulate or from real intelligence I do not know. 

Mrs. Reed joins me in kind wishes and compli- 
ments to Mrs. Greene, whose important business we 
learn is happily settled in presenting you with a fine 
son, of which we give you joy. Mr. Pettit and Mr. 
Cox, I find, do not agree in opinion as to the plan 
of your congressional operations, which is another 
powerful motive for your coming. 

But it is time to relieve you from this tedious ' 
letter, in which my pen has run away with me, as I 
intended to have been very prudent and reserved, 
but I find I have, as we poor mortals are apt to do, 
made good resolutions and broke them every one. 

I am, with very sincere regard and esteem, my 
dear General, 

Your most obedient and 

Very humble servant, 

J. Reed. 

In May, 1780, Mrs. Reed's youngest child was 



ESTHER REED. 307 

born, and named George Washington ;* and in the 
summer of that year she, with her little family, re- 
sided at a country-house, on the River Schuylkill, 
a few miles from Philadelphia, f The first division 
of the French army having arrived in Rhode Island, 
and a combined movement of the allied troops on 
New York being contemplated, it was deemed ex- 
pedient to raise and march to the proposed scene of 
action a large body of Pennsylvania volunteers. 
This was done with great spirit, and, resigning his 
executive authority to the Vice-President, Presi- 
dent Reed took the field in person, assembling his 
raw levies at Trenton, there to await the orders of 
the Commander-in-Chief. They remained till Au- 
gust, when the French co-operation failing, they 
were dismissed. To her husband at Camp, the fol- 
lowing characteristic letters, almost the last she 
ever wrote, were sent : 

MRS. REED TO MR. REED. 

Banks of Schuylkill, August 20th, 1780. 

I this moment received yours, my dear friend, 

* For a sketch of his gallant career, see Reed's Memoirs, vol. ii, 
p. 230. 

fThis place is that now (1853) owned by Miss Burd, just 
above the Peters's Island Railroad Bridge. 



308 EST II Ell REED. 

from Bloomsbury. I am very glad to hear our 
friends there are well. I dare say you were wel- 
come as to yourselves, but perhaps not so with re- 
spect to such a number of militia. Mr. Cox's 
orchards and cornfields may suffer a little, and that 
I imagine, he cannot put up with very patiently, 
but perhaps you will be able to keep better disci- 
pline than I am aware of. 

I have not heard of any letters from the General 
or any other quarter since you left home. I left 
directions that all those wrote on public service 
should be sent to the Council, — the others sent up 
here, but have not yet received any. 

Shall I acknowledge, my dear friend, that I am 
not so anxious as I ought to be, perhaps, for the 
second division of the fleet ? I judge in that case 
something of consequence would be attempted, fatal 
perhaps, in the event, and too much of my happi- 
ness is at stake not to make me dread it. If you 
cannot praise my patriotism, I am sure you can 
excuse me, at least, and place to the account of my 
love what is wanting to the cause of my country. 

I congratulate you on this agreeable change of 
weather ; it will make your own fatigues, as well as 
those of your soldiers, much less. This, as well as 
other circumstances, make one think of Philadelphia 



ESTHER R E E D. 309 

— though it is pleasant here, yet my family is not 
arranged for two houses. Rogers is our only man- 
servant. Our tenant is very obliging, or we could 
not possibly stay ; he does everything I ask of him. 
Mr. Pettit [illegible] one of his horses that we are 
now confined here; but these difficulties will be 
principally removed in town. I shall therefore re- 
turn there as soon as possible. 

I shall be very anxious to hear from you what 
your views and expectations are, and how far you 
move. I have heard it hinted that you will your- 
self go on to Head-Quarters, if the troops should 
not be wanted there. Do write me as often as you 
can ; nothing can so much reconcile me to your 
absence as frequently hearing from you. I must 
in very great haste tell you that we are all well, 
and that 

I am, with unalterable affection. 

Ever yours, 

E. Reed. 

MRS. REED TO MR. REED. 

Banks of Schuylkill, August 22d, 1780. 

I thank you, my dear friend, for your attention 
to me in writing so frequently. Nothing can give 



310 ESTHER KEED. 

greater pleasure, or tend so much to make absence 
tolerable. Yours, by Mr. Hunter, of the 19th, I 
received this morning. I am very glad to hear you 
have a little leisure; it will be a relief to your 
mind, and add also to your health, and I hope, while 
you have time, I shall still hear from you as often 
as you have opportunity. Though I have no rea- 
son to say a word to urge you to this, yet I cannot 
help expressing my wishes and hopes, and the plea- 
sure I have in hearing from you. I think your 
situation, encamped on the banks of the Delaware, 
must be very agreeable. If I did not see and know 
the impropriety of it, I should almost wish to pay 
you a visit, as you know I have ever had a strong 
curiosity to see an army in the field ; and though 
yours is small, yet it would gratify my curiosity as 
much, perhaps, as a large one. But I believe I 
shall not see it now ; I must wait, at least, until the 
next time. The gentlemen of your family who have 
never been out before, I suppose think this a very 
agreeable specimen of the campaign. Dr. Hutch- 
inson, I imagine, has joined you by this time, — to 
him, as well as to all the gentlemen with whom I 
am acquainted in your family, I beg my compli- 
ments, and my wish that they may find their whole 
tour of duty as pleasant as this part of it. 



ESTHER REED. 311 

I received this morning a letter from the Gene- 
ral, and he still continues his opinion that the money 
in my hands should he laid out in linen ; he says no 
supplies he has at present, or has a prospect of, are 
any way adequate to the wants of the army; his 
letter is, I think, a little formal, as if he was hurt 
by our asking his opinion a second time, and our 
not following his directions, after desiring to give 
them. The letter is very complaisant, and I shall 
now endeavour to get the shirts made as soon as 
possible. This is another circumstance to urge my 
return to town, as I can do little towards it here. 
The masons are about altering the chimney, under 
the directions of Mr. Matlack ; I hope they will be 
done this week. When we move, I believe we must 
put Mr. Pettit's horse and our old one together; 
they will not be a very good match, but they must 
do. 

I am very anxious to know if you have heard 
from the General since the Committee left Camp. 
I can't help thinking you will find an alteration 
when they leave him to his opinion. I confess I 
felt very sensibly his doubting your zeal or ex- 
ertions in the cause of your country; neither of 
these, nor your friendship for him, I think, can 
at this day be called in question ; but his ears have 



812 ESTIIEFv REED. 

been open to insinuations, perhaps of designing men, 
or at least ignorant ones, who have themselves heark- 
ened to those who represent this state able to do 
more than it really can, and thus answers two pur- 
poses, — it takes from the merit of government, and 
magnifies the exertions of private subscriptions. 
But I hope you will suspend any decided judgment 
on the General's conduct until you see him ; he may 
probably explain it to your satisfaction ; and re- 
member, my friend, no one is entirely proof against 
the arts of misrepresentation, or can always act 
right when those in whom they place confidence 
make it a point to deceive us, or are themselves 
deceived. 

I intend answering the General's letter to-mor- 
row, which I shall enclose to you. You will have a 
better opportunity of forwarding it than I shall. 

Our dear little children are pretty well. Dennis 
has been most terribly bit with mosquitoes, which 
he scratched till they are very sore and trouble- 
some, and it makes him fretful. The chief reason 
to make me regret leaving this place is on the chil- 
dren's account, who seem to enjoy more pleasure 
here than in town. However, the weather is now 
so moderate I think it cannot endansrer their health. 



ESTHER KEED. 313 

Mamma sends her love and best wishes for your 
safety. 

Adieu, my dear friend ; think of me often, and 
remember with what sincere and tender aflfection 
I am unalterably and truly yours, 

E. Reed. 

On the the 26th, Mr. Reed thus replied, " The 
affair of the donation will require your attention, 
or slander will be busy on that score ; the General 
is so decided, that you have no choice left, so that 
the sooner you finish the business the better. You 
will recollect my dear creature, that it will be ne- 
cessary for you to render a public account of your 
stewardship in this business, and though you will 
receive no thanks if you do it well, you will, much 
blame, should it be otherwise. If it should happen 
that you do not come up, I have something to men- 
tion in writing on this point, but I had rather do it 
personally, so that I shall defer till I see what you 
conclude upon. I have received the shirts, &c., 
and a large bundle of English newspapers, but you 
do not telhme to whom I am obliged for this com- 
munication, or whether I am to return them. I 
should not be disappointed if the repeated and con- 
tinued attacks of my enemies should sometimes 
27 



314 ESTHER REED. 

meet with partial success. Human nature is not 
equal to the task of watching and repelling such 
incessant and implacable malice, but I am grown 
very callous on these points. I shall do my duty 
to the best of my ability, and if, after all, preju- 
dices arising from envy, and real, though causeless 
malignity, prevail, I trust it can only be for a sea- 
son ; the mist will, sooner or later, clear away, but 
if it should not, I shall always have the satisfaction 
arising from an approving conscience, of having 
performed my duty to my country, unbiassed by 
interest or ambition. It is not unlikely the Gene- 
ral has caught the infection in part, for mischief is 
is ever industrious, but he has a good heart, and I 
believe slow in listening to evil reports. He may 
have more professing and adulating friends, but he 
has not a more sincere one in America. He is not in 
all respects lucky as to those about him, but, being 
honest himself, he will not readily suspect the 
virtue of others. I have forwarded your letter to 
him. I wish you had mentioned the progress you 
had made in the business, and think you had best 
occasionally inform him how you go on. Kiss the 
children for me, and remember me aflfectionately to 
your mamma, as well as kindly to all friends. If 
you have not set up my bed-curtains, I wish you 



ESTHER REED. 315 

would take the first opportunity to do it. I have 
too mucTi pleasure in hearing from you not to desire 
you to write as frequently as you can, and am, my 
dear Hetty, 

" With unabated and inviolable affection, 

*' Ever yours, 

"J. R." 

Mrs. Reed had, it seems, with the sure instinct 
of a woman's sagacity, detected something like for- 
mality in Washington's correspondence, and sus- 
p ected an alienation of feeling on her part, from the 
Pennsylvania authorities. That his conjecture was 
not altogether groundless, is not improbable. There 
were busy mischief-makers at work, poisoning the 
mind of Washington, and striving to excite suspi- 
cions against his best and truest friends. The cloud, 
however, was very transient.* 

" The affair of the donation " referred to in Mr.. 
Reed's letters, was this, (I copy from what has been 
already written.) In the spring of 1780, at the 
period of the greatest distress of the American 

* As a specimen, see letter from General Sullivan to Wash- 
ington, 1st December, 1780, in Spark's Letters to Washington, 
Vol. ii. pp. 265 and 280— also Freeman's Journal, 27th March, 
1782. 



316 ESTHER REED. 

army — when tattered coats, and ragged regimen- 
tals, -had reached the extremest point of wretched- 
ness, the ladies of Philadelphia united for the 
purpose of collecting, by voluntary subscription, 
additional supplies in money and clothes, for the 
poor soldiers. As early as the 20th of January, 
Mr. Reed had written to Washington, " The ladies 
have caught the happy contagion, and in a few days, 
Mrs. Reed "v^ill have the honour of writing to you 
on the subject. It is expected that she will have a 
sum equal to .£100,000 (currency), to be laid out 
according to your Excellency's direction, in such a 
way as may be thought most honourable and grati- 
fying to the brave old soldiers who have borne so 
great a share of the burden of this war. I thought 
it best to mention it in this way to your Excellency 
for your consideration, as it may tend to forward 
the benevolent scheme of the donors with despatch. 
I must observe that the ladies have excepted such 
articles of necessity as clothing which the States are 
bound to provide. We have just heard that Mrs. 
Washington is on the road to this city, so that we 
shall have the benefit of her advice and assistance 
here, and if necessary refer afterwards to your Ex- 
cellency." 

Washington, in a letter which is published in Mr. 



ESTHER REED. 317 

Sparks' collection, acknov/ledged the great value of 
the proposed contribution, and directed the atten- 
tion of the ladies of such articles of linen clothing 
as the soldiery stood ki most need of. The efforts 
of the Philadelphia women were eminently success- 
ful. No pains were spared. The city and districts 
were apportioned among committees, and the result 
was that in Philadelphia City and County alone, the 
collections amounted to upwards of $300,000 paper 
currency, or according to tjie existing depreciation, 
in specie about $7500. ManyoiP the contributions 
were made in gold, and all parties seem to have- 
given liberally. It is a curious thing that the fund 
about this time subscribed by the merchants and 
others for the creation of a bank, amounted to 
X315,000, or but about four hundi:ed specie dollars 
more than was contributed for mere charity by the 
ladies of this city. Nor were their efforts confined to 
this neighbourhood ; circulars were addressed to ad- 
joining Counties and States. New Jersey and Mary- 
land contributed generously. The following letters 
taken from my papers are inserted without further 
comment than to direct attention to the business- 
like intelligence, and practical good sense which 
distinguish Mrs. Reed's correspondence on a subject 
of which as a secluded female she could have had 
27* 



318 ESTHEK REED. 

no previous knowledge. Washington too writes as 
judiciously on the topic of " soldiers' shirts," as on 
the plan of a campaign or the subsistence of an 
army. 

ESTHER REED TO WASHINGTON. 

Philadelphia, July 4th, 1780. 

Sir, 

The subscription set on foot by the ladies of this 
city for the use of the soldiery, is so far completed 
as to induce me to transmit to your Excellency an 
account of the money I have received, and which, 
although it has answered our expectations, it does 
not equal our wishes, but I am persuaded wilLbe re- 
ceived as a proof of our zeal for the great cause of 
America and our esteem and gratitute for those who 
so bravely defend it. 

The amount of the subscription is 200,580 dol- 
lars, and ^625 6s. Sd. in specie, which makes in the 
whole in paper money 300,634 dollars. 

The ladies are anxious for the soldiers to receive 
the benefit of it, and wait your directions how it can 
best be disposed of. We expect some considerable 
additions from the country and have also wrote to 
the other States in hopes the ladies there will adopt 



ESTHER EEED. 319 

similar plans, to render it more general and bene- 
ficial. 

With the utmost pleasure I offer any farther at- 
tention and care in my power to complete the exe- 
cution of the design, and shall be happy to accom- 
plish it agreeably to the intention of the donors and 
your wishes on the subject. 

The ladies of my family join me in their respect- 
ful compliments and sincerest prayer for your health, 
safety, and success. I have the honour to be, with 
the highest respect. 

Your obedient humble servant, 

E. Reed. 

The original memoranda and accounts of these 
contributions, with the names of each committee 
and contributor, are in my possession. The number 
of contributors was 1645, thus apportioned : the 
City 1099 ; Southwark 152 ; Northern Liberties 
171 ; Germantown 152 ; and Bristol 13. All ranks 
of society seem to have united, from Phillis, the 
coloured woman, with her humble 7s. 6d., to the 
Marchioness de Lafayette, who contributed one 
hundred guineas in specie, and the Countess de Lu- 
zerne $6000 in Continental paper, $150 in specie. 



820 ESTHER REED. 

Lafayette's gentlemanly letter to Mrs. Reed is worth 
preserving. 

THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE TO MRS. REED. 
Head-Quarters, June 25th, 1780. 

Madam, 

In admiring the new resolution, in which the fair 
ones of Philadelphia have taken the lead, I am in- 
duced to feel for those American ladies who, being 
out of the Continent, cannot participate in this pa- 
triotic measure. I know of one who, heartily wish- 
ing for a personal acquaintance with the ladies of 
America, would feel particularly happy to be ad- 
mitted among them on the present occasion. With- 
out presuming to break in upon the rules of your 
respected Association, may I most humbly present 
myself as her Ambassador to the confederate ladies, 
and solicit in her name that Mrs. President be 
pleased to accept of her offering. With the highest 
respect, I have the honour to be. Madam, 
Your most obedient servant, 

Lafayette.* 

• Let me here record my American admiration, — as a matter of 
well-reasoned judgment on full and thorough study, of Lafayette, in 



ESTHER REED. 321 



WASHINGTON TO MRS. REED. 

Head-Quarters, July 20th, 1780. 

An idea has occurred to me, mj dear Madam, 
which if perfectly consistent with the views of the 
female patriots may perhaps extend the utility of 
their subscriptions. It is to deposit the amount in 
the Bank, and receive Bank notes in lieu of it to 
purchase the articles intended. 

This, while serviceable to the Bank and advancing 
its operations, seems to have no inconvenience to 
the intentions of the ladies. By uniting the efforts 
of patriotism, they will reciprocally promote each 
other, and I should imagine the ladies will have no 
objection to a union with the gentlemen. 

all his relations to my country. There is not a line he ever wrote, 
or a word he ever uttered, or an act of his whole life, that does not 
tend to prove him to have been the disinterested friend of America, 
and her institutions. And yet on the tomb which is erected over 
him, in the burial ground of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart in Paris, 
which I saw in 1845, not a word is written of his American 
honours. If I remember rightly, some doubtful French titles are 
there inscribed, and close by, over a small gateway, as if in 
ghastly mockery, is written, " Sepulture de 1306 personnes qui 
ont peri a la barriere du Trone, depuis le 26 Prairial, an 2, jusqu'au 
9 Thermidor snivant." 



322 ESTHER REED. 

But I beg, Madam, the suggestion I have taken 
the liberty to make, may not have the least atten- 
tion paid to it, if the sentiments of all the fair asso- 
ciates do not perfectly coincide. I have the honour 
to be, with perfect respect and esteem, Madam, 
Your most obedient servant, 

George Washington. 

esther reed to washington. 

Banks of Schuylkill, July 31st, 1780. 

Sir, 

Ever since I received your Excellency's favour of 
the 20th of this month, I have been endeavouring 
to procure the linen for the use of the soldiers, and 
it was not till Saturday last I have been able to 
meet with any fit for the purpose, it being unavoid- 
ably delayed so long. I have been informed of 
some circumstances, which I beg leave to mention, 
and from which perhaps the necessity for shirts may 
have ceased ; one is the supply of 2000 sent from 
this State to their line, and the other, that a consi- 
derable number is arrived in the French fleet, for the 
use of the army in general. Together with these, 
an idea prevails among the ladies, that the soldiers 



ESTHER REED. 323 

will not be so much gratified, by bestowing an article 
to which they are entitled from the public, as in 
some other method which will convey more fully the 
idea of a reward for past services, and an incite- 
ment to future duty. Those who are of this opinion 
propose the whole of the money to be changed into 
hard dollars, and giving each soldier two, to be en- 
tirely at his own disposal. This method I hint only, 
but would not, by any means wish to adopt it or any 
other, without your full approbation. If it should 
meet with your concurrence, the State of Pennsyl- 
vania will take the linen I have purchased, and, as 
far as respects their own line, will make up any de- 
ficiency of shirts to them, which they suppose will 
not be many after the fresh supplies are received. 
If, after all, the necessity for shirts, which, though 
it may cease, as to the Pennsylvania Troops, may 
still continue to other parts of the army, the ladies 
will immediately make up the linen we have, which 
I think can soon be efi'ected, and forward them to 
camp, and procure more as soon as possible, having 
kept in hand the hard money I have received, until 
I receive your reply. 

The circumstances I have mentioned will, I hope, 
appear a sufficient motive for the ladies postponing 
the plan your Excellency proposes ; I will not, there- 



324 ESTHER REED. 

fore, take up jour time in apologising for the delay. 
I have to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from 
your Excellency of the 20th, to which I would re- 
ply, that if the scheme to give the soldiers hard 
money should be thought proper, of course, the 
putting the money I have into the bank, couldn't 
be done, and I find on inquiry that considerable 
advantage may be had, by laying out hard money, 
either in linen or any other article. 

I have the honour to be, dear Sir, 
With the highest esteem. 



Your obedient servant 



E. Reed. 

Washington, in a letter of the 20th, reiterated 
his wish that no hard money, but specific supplies 
of clothing, should be furnished by the fair contribu- 
tors,, and with a note from Mrs. Reed expressing 
her acquiescence, the correspondence closed. Her 
last act of life was thus one of public beneficence. 

On the 22d August, 1780, are dated probably the 
last words she ever wrote. They are addressed to 
the lover of her youth and husband of her genuine 
and unfaltering afiection. 



ESTHER REED. 325 



MRS. REED TO MR. REED. 

Banks of Schuylkill, August 2Gth, 1780. 

My Dear Friend: 

To-daj the news has reached me of the arrival 
of the second division of the French fleet. It 
doubtless gives universal satisfaction. What my 
feelings are on the occasion you will be at no loss to 
judge, and I will not pain you with describing them. 
I wish only that you may excuse my weakness with 
a tenderness that I can expect from no one else. I 
wonder I have not heard from you since I wrote. 
It is now near a week and I have not a line. My 
time passes on heavily when I hear no tidings of 
you. Are you so much engaged with your great 
family that you have not had leisure for us ; — but 
very likely there may be a letter in town for me, as 
I have seen nobody to-day who could bring it to me. 
Our dear little family are pretty well. Washington 
has been unwell these two or three days but is 
better. Denny is very happy and there is seldom 
a day passes but he talks of you. Do you not 
sometimes wish to see the circle you have left behind ? 
When you have a little cessation from the great 
concerns you are engaged in and your thoughts take 

28 



326 ESTHER REED. 

their natural bias, I knoAV you tliink of us, and when 
you have been embarrassed with difficulties, do you 
not wish to lose your cares on a bosom that is ever 
ready to share and relieve all your troubles. 

I have not yet moved to town, but intend to be 
there this week. I delayed a little while in hopes 
your tour of duty would be short, and you might be 
able to be with me here some time longer ; but that 
seems now quite out of the question and I shall 
hasten to town. 

I hope I shall hear from you in a day or two and 
learn what interesting intelligence you have. You 
can expect nothing from me but family circum- 
stances, and of these I shall continue to inform you 
because I know how much our welfare contributes 
to your happiness. Adieu, my dear friend, with the 
tenderest affection 

Your ever faithful 

E. Reed. 

It was on his way homeward, after the dismissal 
of the troops that President Reed wrote the follow- 
ing "letter to his friend Greene. I insert it here 
at the risk of deranging my merely personal nar- 
rative, on account of its peculiar interest and its 
having been accidentally omitted in the biographical 



ESTHER REED. 327 

work to which it properly belongs. It is an earnest 
and truthful expression of the writer's opinion at a 
perilous crisis of our public affairs. 



REED TO GREENE. 

Bloomsbury, September 2d, 1780. 

Dear Sir: 

Your obliging favour of the 29th ult., is before 
me. I had flattered myself with the idea of spend- 
ing some time with you in Camp, and if my wishes 
had taken effect, to have served immediately under 
you. But it is otherwise, and I am now upon my 
return, having dismissed the militia, collected the 
stores, and closed my tour. The state of our pub- 
lic affairs now appears so problematical, that I con- 
fess myself bewildered and can hardly find a resting 
place for hope that some convulsion will not give 
the machine a new bias. Those who trace causes 
and effects, see nothing in our situation which might 
not naturally be ascribed to the politics and mea- 
sures of the summer of 1779, when the prospect of 
a winter peace evidently pervaded all our public 
measures, and the landed men thought no risk of 
national honour or interest too great to turn pff 



328 ESTHER HEED. 

the weight of taxes. To these men, supposing no 
lurking treachery or wish to fall back to Great Britain, 
and to their measures we owe our present distress. 
Hence has arose the absurd system of specific sup- 
plies, which in other words is a scheme to carry on 
the war without money — hence the clamours against 
public officers, because otherwise these clamours 
would have fallen elsewhere. Perhaps it may be 
the crisis of our disorder and we may find our politi- 
cal diseases less fatal than they appear in prospect. 
Far from wishing your continuance in the office, I 
think a suitable exit was much to be desired. You 
may remember this was my opinion last spring, 
foreseeing that if the campaign began, retirement 
would be difficult and disgusting if not impractica- 
ble. As events are, perhaps my fears may not be 
well founded, though the clamour has been conside- 
rable. Col. Pickering's success will much govern 
the event as there will not be wanting some who will 
impute to you any failure which may happen this 
summer. But it being now done we must all endea- 
vour to serve the public with as little recollection of 
past grievances as possible. The changes of senti- 
ment which have taken place in the army with re- 
spect to civil government, have for the first time 
given me apprehensions. I am told that some offi- 



ESTHER REED. ' 329 

cers of considerable rank have pressed the General 
to assume dictatorial authority. Is it so ? Neces- 
sity may perhaps plead for such a measure, but 
certainly such power should be received from other 
hands. He it is said, treated the proposition in a 
suitable msumer,— that necessity has ever been the 
tyrant's plea, and I prize his judgment and virtue 
too highly to believe he "vvill contaminate a glorious 
and honourable life by this fatal mistake ; for how- 
ever Congress may be depreciated as well as their 
money, they are yet the supreme power of the coun- 
try and may be much easier appreciated than the 
public safety and honour after such an event. 

Mr. Matthews's conduct both in Philadelphia and 
at Camp has been very mysterious : as I never gave 
him any cause of offence his enmity is unpardona- 
ble. The conduct and claims made by the Com- 
mittee have given universal dissatisfaction; they 
seemed to be intoxicated with their appointment 
and dealt out their dictates and reprehensions with 
extraordinary severity and, I think, partiality. It 
was in the first instance a child of cabal, and their 
treatment of Pennsylvania was unwarrantably ca- 
pricious. Gen. Schuyler was in town and conversed 
fully with me on the subjects of which in a few 
days they complained they could get no information. 



330 ESTHER REED. 

Mr. Mathews spent a week in town and never sought 
it. I assure you there never was any intention to 
withhold a correspondence with them, but it required 
time and information to give them the assurances 
they required. We could not, after receiving an 
uncivil letter, humble ourselves to them ; and have, as 
soon as in our power, laid before Congress a full 
state of our affairs. Nor could they, I am sure, 
have ventured to treat us as they did, but that they 
expected the Bank would do everything — that bub- 
ble is now sinking to nothing and will prove the 
weakness and folly of building the supply of an army 
on the donations of a few generous individuals 
and the efforts of faction. They have impaired the 
public cause inexpressibly, and the wisest and 
best a^dvice that could be given them, and which 
they ought to have from the highest authority, 
would be to join their strength and credit to that of 
the State, and give our money issued for the purposes 
of supply a free and full credit. I will then as I have 
told the General, pledge my life and character that 
the army will not want bread. 

This will be delivered you by a worthy friend of 
mine. Dr. Shrill, with whom you may speak freely 
and confidentially and any civilities shown him will 
do me a particular favour. 



ESTHER REED. 331 

With every kind wish and the most sincere re- 
gard, I remain, dear Sir, 

Your very sincere friend and 

Obedient humble servant, 

Jos. Reed. 

The scene must now close. Mr. Reed on reach- 
ing home found his wife on a bed of fatal ill- 
ness. Her constitution, enfeebled by her recent 
confinement, sank under an attack of acute disease, 
and she breathed her last, her husband, her aged 
mother, and children, the eldest being eight years 
of age, watching around her, at Philadelphia, on 
the 18th of September, 1780. All classes of 
society testified respect for her memory. Washing- 
ton knew her well, and has left on record his expres- 
sion of respectful sorrow. 

The Council and Assembly adjourned and at- 
tended her funeral in a body. A large number of 
citizens followed. The howl of faction and party 
animosity, then more fierce than ever and disturb- 
ing the higher circles of social life, was silenced 
at the sight of the husband bowed down in sor- 
row over his young wife's grave. To him, it was a 
blow from which he never recovered, and the rest of 
his life was darkened by this predominant sorrow 



332 ESTHER REED. 

that never had consolation. To watch over his little 
children was his chief care, amidst the turmoil of 
public duty and anxieties as to public concerns which 
had no relief. There is a letter now before me to 
Mr. De Berdt, written more than a year after Mrs. 
Reed's death, that tells the tale of corroding domes- 
tic sorrow in words of genuine pathos which it is 
hard even now to read without tears. ' *^ I never 
knew," he says, "how much I loved her till I lost 
her for ever. I have sought resignation of philoso- 
phy and religion. I have endeavoured to reason 
myself into a proper submission to the Divine Will, 
but with little success. I must have the aid of 
time to feel as I ought to feel."* Mr. Reed went 
to England in the winter of 1788-4. The scene 
there was wholly changed. "Neither the country 
nor my feelings towards it," he wrote to a friend, 
" are the same, and I wish to return with all conve- 
nient expedition to America." He returned to die, 
having survived his wife little more than four 
years. Such was life — so varied, so anxious and so 
brief, in those days of trial. 

Mrs. Reed was buried in the Arch Street Pres- 
byterian ground — a spot honoured by the repose pf 

* MSS. Letter from Mr. Reed to Mr. De Berdt, Nov. 28, 1781. 



ESTHER BEED. 333 

many of the great and good of our Philadelpliia an- 
cestors, and hence I trust sacred; and over her 
tomb, situated close to the gate, are written, no 
doubt by her husband, these words : 

In memory of Esther, the beloved wife-of Joseph Reed, 

President of this State, who departed this life 

On the 18th of September, A. d. 178.0, aged 34 years. 

Reader ! If the possession of those virtues of the heart 

Which make life valuable, or those personal endowments which 

Command esteem and love, may claim respectful and affectionate 

Remembrance, venerate the ashes here entombed. 

If to have the cup of temporal blessings dashed 

In the period and station of life in which blessings 

May be best enjoyed, demands our sorrow, drop a tear, and 

Think how slender is that thread on which the joys 

And hopes of life depend. 

My little memoir is now concluded. I have tried, 
as I wrote, to fulfil the pledge of my first pages, 
and to make it a simple and unambitious narrative. 
It has been to me a source of pure pleasure, and I 
do not at all disguise — it would be the worst of 
afiectation to do so — that some of this pleasure has 
been connected with the proud consciousness that 
the blood of her of whom I was writing flowed in 
my veins. Pride in ancestry, honoured in those 
days of genuine patriotism, is, at least, innocent — 



334 ESTHER REED. 

possibly influential in guiding conduct to noble ends 
and aims. The more the American Revolution is 
studied, the more minute the revelations of the con- 
duct of its public men, the more rational will be the 
reverence which we, the men of times far, very far, 
deteriorated, ought to have for them. I have en- 
deavoured, in this little essay, to shed some light 
upon Revolutionary domestic life, aside from mere 
politics, and to show what were the trials and the 
heroism of the women of those days. 



APPENDIX. 

AMERICAN LAW STUDENTS IN ENGLAND. 

Through the kindness of Sir Henry Lytton Bulwer, when Min- 
ister to this country, and of some professional friends in London, 
I have been enabled to procure partial lists of the Americans, who, 
before, and during the Revolutionary War, completed their pro- 
fessional studies in Great Britain. I regret very much that, owing 
to the enormous office charges at the Middle Temple, whither the 
largest number of Americans resorted, among them, my own an- 
cestor, I have been prevented from obtaining its list. These;charges, 
the Benchers have not felt at liberty to relinquish. Amongst those 
who studied at the Middle Temple, and who subsequently 
attained eminence at the Bar of Philadelphia, were Joseph Reed, 
Nicholas Wain, Edward Tilghman, Jared Ingersoil, and William 
Rawle. 

STUDENTS AT THE INNER TEMPLE, 1760 TO 1785. 

1. Philip Alexander, of Virginia, . . . 20th December, 1760. 

2. William Paca, of Maryland, .... 14th January, 1762. 
(Mr. Paca was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.) 

3. Alexander White, of Virginia, . . . 15th January, 1762. 

4. Edmund Key, of Maryland, .... 24th June, 1762. 

5. Lewis Barwell, of Virginia, .... 22d March, 1765, 

6. William Cooke, of Maryland, . . . 20th July, 1768. 

7. James Lloyd Rodgers, of Maryland, . 20th July, 1768. 

8. John Peronneau, of Carolina, ... 2d April, 1772. 

9. Kean Osborne, of America (sic), . . 27th November. 1772. 



336 



APPENDIX. 



10. John W. Irwin, of America, 

11. Gibbes W. Jordan, of America, 

12. St. George Tucker, of America, . 

13. James McKealy, of America, . 

14. William Houston, of Georgia, . 

15. Francis Corbin, of Virginia, . . 

16. Daniel Leonard, of America, . 

1 7. William Robert Hay, of America, 

18. George Tyson, of America, . . 

19. John Kelsall, of America, . . 

20. Francis Rush Clark, of America, 

21. Carter Braxton, of America, . . 

22. James Robertson, of America, . 

23. Richard Foster Clark, of America 

24. John Wentworth, of America, , 



2d December, 1772. 
27th August, 1773. 
19th November, 1773. 
19 th November, 1775. 
1st July, 1776. 
23d January, 1777. 
5th June, 1777. 
2d May, 1781. 
6th June, 1781. 
27th June, 1783. 
5th November, 1783. 
3d December, 1783. 
18th December, 1783. 
4th November, 1785. 
11th February, 1785. 



LINCOLNS INN. 

1. Philip Livingston, Jr., of New York, . 30th September, 1761. 

(A signer of the Declaration of Independence.) 

2. Arthur Lee, M.D., F.R.S., of Virginia. 1st March, 1770. 

3. Wilham Vassall. of Boston, . . , 24th November, 1773. 

4. Francis Kinlock, of South Carohna, . 14th March, 1774. 

5. William Walton, of South Carolina, . 25th January, 1775. 

6. John Stuart, of South Carolina, . . 17th May, 1775. 

7. Peter Markoe, of Philadelphia, . . 29th May, 1775. 

8. Benjamin Lovell, of Boston, ... 3d May, 1776. 

9. Robert WiUiams, of South Carohna, 1st April, 1777. 

10. Gabriel Manigault, of South Carolina, 12th August, 1777. 

11. Clement Cooke Clarke, of New York, 25th August, 1778. 

12. Alexander Garden, of South Carolina, lltli January, 1779. 

13. Richard Henderson, of Maryland, . 18th January, 1781. 

14. Neil Jamieson, of New York, . . . 21st September, 1782. 

15. Thomas Bee, of South Carolina, . . 18th December, 1782. 



4? 



J 



